Umtholo

May 19, 2009 (Tuesday)
Umtholo Umtholo Primary School (UPS) was the second school I was able to visit here in South Africa. Umtholo translates to “tree,” and the school emblem is a tree growing out a book to symbolize the growth of knowledge and academic achievement. My experience at UPS was very interesting. On one hand I recognize the socio-economic disadvantage this school is facing, but on the other I am extremely critical of the apathy and lack of confidence teachers possess in their students. In one 4th Grade class, the math teacher arrived 40 minute late to an hour class and then kept the students through part of their lunch hour to finish her lesson. While students are required to be to school on time or be locked out until the guard decides to let them in (sometimes it an hour and sometimes it not all day), teachers arrive late to classes and spend a majority of the time punishing students for unfinished work or incorrect answers. I am not at all trying to desensitize the affects of poverty, lack of parenting, poor health care, and the many other hardships these students face that may affect their education. Yet, many of the excelling students I have talked with are highly supported by one or two faculty members that strongly believe in their potential. I am pushing to emphasize the power of one – the power that teachers possess to forge opportunities and experiences for their students. No, rather the RESPONSIBILITY teachers possess to forge opportunities and experiences for their students that lead to academic engagement. As Mr. Mavundla, a Social Science teacher at Zonkizizwe Primary School, shared, “What I like most about my job is seeing that these students have a strong will to survive through hard times. They come here with happy faces. I did not begin teaching at Zonki Primary School by choice, but I don’t regret being here. The area itself has made me a better person.” *Umtholo students making the most out of life *Phumzile (the young girl that is taking me from school to school) and I *Phumzile and I with a 6th grade class at Umtholo Umtholo Primary School (UPS) was the second school I was able to visit here in South Africa. Umtholo translates to “tree,” and the school emblem is a tree growing out a book to symbolize the growth of knowledge and academic achievement. My experience at UPS was very interesting. On one hand I recognize the socio-economic disadvantage this school is facing, but on the other I am extremely critical of the apathy and lack of confidence teachers possess in their students. In one 4th Grade class, the math teacher arrived 40 minute late to an hour class and then kept the students through part of their lunch hour to finish her lesson. While students are required to be to school on time or be locked out until the guard decides to let them in (sometimes it an hour and sometimes it not all day), teachers arrive late to classes and spend a majority of the time punishing students for unfinished work or incorrect answers. I am not at all trying to desensitize the affects of poverty, lack of parenting, poor health care, and the many other hardships these students face that may affect their education. Yet, many of the excelling students I have talked with are highly supported by one or two faculty members that strongly believe in their potential. I am pushing to emphasize the power of one – the power that teachers possess to forge opportunities and experiences for their students. No, rather the RESPONSIBILITY teachers possess to forge opportunities and experiences for their students that lead to academic engagement. As Mr. Mavundla, a Social Science teacher at Zonkizizwe Primary School, shared, “What I like most about my job is seeing that these students have a strong will to survive through hard times. They come here with happy faces. I did not begin teaching at Zonki Primary School by choice, but I don’t regret being here. The area itself has made me a better person.” *Umtholo students making the most out of life *Phumzile (the young girl that is taking me from school to school) and I *Phumzile and I with a 6th grade class at Umtholo