South Africa - Day 1
We made it! 🇿🇦As expected, my nerves subsided and I could relax once my feet touched the ground. After a long day exploring under the guidance of EF Tours, I'm up late to write - committed to not only document the experiences, but also to make meaning from those experiences.
Bright and early we visited South Peninsula High School, greeted by a student jazz band and school administrators. We toured with facilities with students and were able to ask questions. The parallels to American education were interesting. Parents feeling the pressure to participate in "pay to win" situations, stretching to pay for more expensive schools to increase the odds of their student becoming successful. Schools being under funded, but resourceful in providing meaningful experiences for their students, teachers needing to thoroughly understand historical context that landed communities where they are, and intentionally make positive connections with students. However, even with my experience teaching in high need inner city schools in Chicago, they were all still more resourced than this school, and my American privilege was fully felt. The school's motto is "Not to be served, but to serve" and they served us indeed, with their time, words, and generous spirits.
After a lovely lunch, we visited Rainbow Academy, a performing arts school that students attend as a one-year bridge program before going to university. It was lively, energetic, and the students were full of joy. If you have never heard the National Anthem of South Africa, I encourage you to do so. Recreated post-apartheid to include 5 of the most widely spoken of SA's 11 official languages, it celebrate's the country's diversity, work towards inclusion, and is a model for America that may also bring you to tears.
So how is my progress on my three goals after the first day?
Goal 1: Connecting with Peers from the Program, and in the Field
I intentionally changed seats regularly during meal times and bus rides to talk with new people. I learned one teacher takes her student groups on international EF tours every summer to participate in marine biology experiences to learn about environmental science in a way they can't experience in the land-locked Midwest. Another teacher and I wondered together if our promise of education is accurately setting students up for drastically economically unequal societies, which we are seeing in America and now also globally.
Goal 2: Finding South African Art to Share with Students
After lunchtime at Harbour House in scenic Kalk Bay, I purchased a hand painted artwork made on the spot by a local artists that incorporated recycled materials.
On an evening stroll around the V&A Waterfront before dinner, I stumbled upon a sculpture by local company Faithful to Nature, that highlighted UN Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water. This hollow, chicken-wire fish encouraged people to put plastic in its belly, for eventual proper disposal, versus having the plastic accidentally litter the ocean.
This supported the #PlasticFreeJuly, a movement that even my own town is celebrating. How encouraging to see global goals actually being pursued globally! This piece will fit in wonderfully as an example during our street art unit.
Goal 3: Make Personal Art Daily
No drawings were made today. 😕
Bright and early we visited South Peninsula High School, greeted by a student jazz band and school administrators. We toured with facilities with students and were able to ask questions. The parallels to American education were interesting. Parents feeling the pressure to participate in "pay to win" situations, stretching to pay for more expensive schools to increase the odds of their student becoming successful. Schools being under funded, but resourceful in providing meaningful experiences for their students, teachers needing to thoroughly understand historical context that landed communities where they are, and intentionally make positive connections with students. However, even with my experience teaching in high need inner city schools in Chicago, they were all still more resourced than this school, and my American privilege was fully felt. The school's motto is "Not to be served, but to serve" and they served us indeed, with their time, words, and generous spirits.
After a lovely lunch, we visited Rainbow Academy, a performing arts school that students attend as a one-year bridge program before going to university. It was lively, energetic, and the students were full of joy. If you have never heard the National Anthem of South Africa, I encourage you to do so. Recreated post-apartheid to include 5 of the most widely spoken of SA's 11 official languages, it celebrate's the country's diversity, work towards inclusion, and is a model for America that may also bring you to tears.
So how is my progress on my three goals after the first day?
Goal 1: Connecting with Peers from the Program, and in the Field
I intentionally changed seats regularly during meal times and bus rides to talk with new people. I learned one teacher takes her student groups on international EF tours every summer to participate in marine biology experiences to learn about environmental science in a way they can't experience in the land-locked Midwest. Another teacher and I wondered together if our promise of education is accurately setting students up for drastically economically unequal societies, which we are seeing in America and now also globally.
Goal 2: Finding South African Art to Share with Students
After lunchtime at Harbour House in scenic Kalk Bay, I purchased a hand painted artwork made on the spot by a local artists that incorporated recycled materials.
On an evening stroll around the V&A Waterfront before dinner, I stumbled upon a sculpture by local company Faithful to Nature, that highlighted UN Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water. This hollow, chicken-wire fish encouraged people to put plastic in its belly, for eventual proper disposal, versus having the plastic accidentally litter the ocean.
This supported the #PlasticFreeJuly, a movement that even my own town is celebrating. How encouraging to see global goals actually being pursued globally! This piece will fit in wonderfully as an example during our street art unit.
Goal 3: Make Personal Art Daily
No drawings were made today. 😕
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