City hall, Company Gardens and Iziko

 

29 June Company Gardens

Some Diverse conversations:

One man felt that there should be more emphasis on developing basic skills, like memory. This led to a discussion how technology apparently undermines the need for basic abilities like spelling, grammar, arithmetic and memory, with spell and grammar check, calculators, cameras all readily available in the palms of our hands.

A teacher working in a private education-as-business model school said he was in hell, and probably wouldn’t have a job next year. This approach to education is outcomes based; for the school an economic profit, the student a certificate. Learning seems to have little to do with this model; the attitude of the student is often one of entitlement; “I have paid for the certificate, give it to me”. He teaches Visual Art and Design. Because Design is a non accredited subject, it is not taken very seriously. This can be demoralising for the class as a whole and for the teacher.

Another teacher in the same party has a very different experience. Hers is from a government school perspective which encourages creativity. The numbers in her classes are increasing. As from next year Design becomes an accredited subject changing the attitude toward it dramatically.

Two parents with sons in grade 2, one in a government school, other at a semi-private school (receiving foreign funding). The son of the former hated school and getting him to school in the morning was a chore. The latter whose school combines parental and community involvement loves going to school. Both parents said that they put much energy into their boys homework and both remarked how the standard had risen since they were at school. That they were learning much as a result of this.

Another woman felt that handcraft (woodwork, needle work, knitting etc) needs to be reinstated in the curriculum. This would develop useful skills in students who where less ‘smart’, thus enabling them to generate their own income. She also felt it a pity that sports were not being encouraged as growing youth need physical development too.