Back-to-School...

Reflection – Week 1

Back to School

My first Week at School has had a Bumpy Start…

At our first School-assembly, on Monday, all the Teachers were called into a Staff-meeting upon arrival. Three Members of the Education Department were present, to inform us, that we would face some delays of the start of the new Semester. We were told that the Learners would have to be sent back Home that morning, due to concerns of Safety…

The School-buildings are under Construction and the Engineers have some concerns about the Structural Integrity of the Classrooms. After an Initial Inspection, they deemed neither the New Buildings nor the Temporary Structures SAFE for Use and Occupation by the Students and Staff. Further Inspection was required…

After a Brief Explanation of the Dilemma by the Principal, the Students were excused and instructed to disperse in a calmly manner…

The Staff had further Meetings to discuss the situation. During one of these subsequent meetings, on Wednesday, I started to get a better insight into the Circumstances that the Teachers and Learners at this School face on a daily basis.

The School is located between an Informal Settlement of shacks and other types of informal housing structures and low-income apartments – in the Local Tongue, The Skiem (Scheme) or The Fletse (Flats).

Many of the Students come from broken homes – Single (or Zero) Parent Homes, living with extended Family Members or Friends or on their own and assuming the ‘adult-role’ in their ‘household’…

The Neighbourhood is riddled with Drugs and Gangsterism. Street-fights and Gun-shots are an all too common occurrence in the Streets surrounding the School. Many of the Learners are affiliated with these Gangs – under duress or by choice. The Gangs offer somewhat of a Group-cohesion / Family Structure and in order to survive (and for Protection) it is better to be on the inside, than an Outsider…

Hoop en Bendegeweld - Eerste skooldag by Hoërskool Scottsdene

				Hoop en Bendegeweld - Eerste skooldag by Hoërskool Scott...
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It became apparent, that getting a ‘sound education’ is not at the very top of every learner’s priority list.

Fear, Danger, Hunger and Public Perception of their Image (Street-cred) are of a bigger concern for many of the learners.

I believe, this will be my biggest challenge – how to connect with the learners with compassion and understanding… Yet, not be such a ‘Softie’ that I am to be taken advantage of?

From some of the informal conversations I have had with the teachers (some of whom have been at the School for Decades), I have been cautioned about being manipulated by some of these ‘sad stories’. Kids will always try and test the Teacher, to see how much they can get away with… Sympathy is a Gift???

Be Stern… But, be Fair – judge each Situation by it’s own merits.

I might not have had actual Teaching-time or much Contact-hours with the Students, this past Week, however I did have a good learning experience. I am impressed at how the Staff pull together as a Team to deal with Adversity and how they manage it. Less Complaints, more Action…

I am excited at what the coming Weeks have in store for us…

A.     Some of the Temporary Classrooms – positioned on the Sports/Playground.

B.     Concerns that the Strong Winter Winds might lift these Rooms off their Foundation.

C.     Brace yourselves… Winter is coming…