My name at the school is "Mr. Chris". No other teachers go by their first name but I was never given a choice. I'm not sure if they just didn't know my surname but my official listing in the computer is "Chris, Mr." and many of the students were looking forward to the arrival of Mr. Chris and Miss Chloe. Children in the street point at us and yell our names....hey, it worked for Mr. T, didn't it?
I estimated today that students are currently spending approximately 4 hours a day in classrooms with no teachers. This includes the 2 hour afternoon session (2pm-4pm) and the mandatory evening study block (7pm-9pm). This would be utter mayhem at home but most of the students here just sleep at their desks until the air horn (blown a dozen times a day by the secretary to indicate the beginning/end of class) goes. If the secretary forgets, which is common because he does not have a watch, class simply continues indefinitely. Standing outside the secretary's door is generally something to be avoided if you value your hearing.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Week one
Well, we've just finished three days at school and there are definitely some major differences from school in North America.
Organisation seems to be lacking. Officially, students have been in class for six days now but many of them have not yet met all their teachers. That assumes they actually have teachers. It was discovered only yesterday that there was no one scheduled to teach math to our two Grade 9 classes. They checked with me and I agreed to teach them (I'm excited to have math classes again!) but they need to completely revamp the entire school's timetable to make this happen. Since they are hesitant to do this until other problems are also identified, those classes will continue to go without math for a few more days.
Giving the chaos of the timetabling system, the students are never informed of what classes they will be receiving. When I walk into a classroom for the first time, I need to tell them what class I'll be teaching them. Many of them are quite excited to be taking a computers class since 40% have never used a desktop computer.
However, I am the only Computers teacher at the school. Only the Grade 12's are scheduled to have a computer classes and they only get one 40-minute block every seven days. There are 42 students in the class and only 11 working computers (actually none of them are working right now because no one knows the password but hopefully I'll get an email about that by next week). I've estimated that this means the average student will, at graduation, have spent only four hours individually using a computer, roughly equivalent to 3-4 blocks of any InfoTech class at home. Tomorrow, we'll begin learning to type on our homemade paper keyboards.
The age range in some classes is rather large. Chloe's grade 8 class has students as young as 13 and as old as 22. One of my Grade 11's is 22 and I haven't checked with my Grade 12's.
Organisation seems to be lacking. Officially, students have been in class for six days now but many of them have not yet met all their teachers. That assumes they actually have teachers. It was discovered only yesterday that there was no one scheduled to teach math to our two Grade 9 classes. They checked with me and I agreed to teach them (I'm excited to have math classes again!) but they need to completely revamp the entire school's timetable to make this happen. Since they are hesitant to do this until other problems are also identified, those classes will continue to go without math for a few more days.
Giving the chaos of the timetabling system, the students are never informed of what classes they will be receiving. When I walk into a classroom for the first time, I need to tell them what class I'll be teaching them. Many of them are quite excited to be taking a computers class since 40% have never used a desktop computer.
However, I am the only Computers teacher at the school. Only the Grade 12's are scheduled to have a computer classes and they only get one 40-minute block every seven days. There are 42 students in the class and only 11 working computers (actually none of them are working right now because no one knows the password but hopefully I'll get an email about that by next week). I've estimated that this means the average student will, at graduation, have spent only four hours individually using a computer, roughly equivalent to 3-4 blocks of any InfoTech class at home. Tomorrow, we'll begin learning to type on our homemade paper keyboards.
The age range in some classes is rather large. Chloe's grade 8 class has students as young as 13 and as old as 22. One of my Grade 11's is 22 and I haven't checked with my Grade 12's.
I am also playing in the hostel soccer tournament this weekend (I'm the only one who's not a student!) and we won our first game!
Reflections on the first week at Omungwelume JSS
Like Chris, I too have faced some of the similar issues at my Grade 8-10 local school--except my school is not a hostel school, and not one of the best in the district (read Chris' blog for a reflection on what the best is like). Nevertheless, I put it all into context--at least there are school buildings, a library (even if most books are 20+ years old), most kids have desks, pens & papers, and most of the time I have chalk & a chalk brush for my class, and some textbooks). Its not a war zone, and its much better than many African countries.
Nevertheless my first day went like this: Arrive at 7am to find the school still locked. Wait 25min for the Principal. He escorts me in, asks my religion & wonders when I will do the morning prayer for the school. Uh.... He can't tell me my schedule because he doesn't know it so I wait until after prayer. At 8:05 (class starts at 8) I receive my schedule for the day--7 classes: 4 English 8, 2 Art! & 1 Geography class (In total I have 5 English Classes, 2 Geography & 3 Art classes). Go! A maniac day....and a maniac week, but I survived and I think the kids understood some of what I said & asked of them.
Let me describe my English 8E classroom though because its something I'm still coming to grips with. 35ish students in the oldest school building I have ever seen. This class is mostly learners who have failed multiple times and have just been moved on---the average age is probably 16, the oldest 21. There are 3 holes in the concrete of the classroom...big enough for a donkey or goat to walk in. Not all the kids have a desk or chair--some sit on boards. On Thursday it rained so hard I had to ford a lake to get to my classroom, then they couldn't hear me because the sound of the rain on the tin roof was deafening. Then the class started to leak--by the ceiling and through the holes in the wall--so a mad scramble ensued. This of course, on top of the lack of pens in this class--I don't think too much got accomplished. After class a soaking wet Bingo was still wimpering outside at which I told the principal I was going home to drop him off and marched off the 15mins home & back & locked him in. It was quite the day, but it got much better from there.
Interesting facts about my learners:
Average Age for my gr.8 classes: 15-16
Families: most kids do not have both parents but live with grandparents, some parents, etc.
Walk to school: a few live close, but 2-3km is pretty understandable; some walk as long as 2 hours.
Important things to the kids: the usual: soccer, netball, parents, love. More than one girl stated she like to carry water and showed a picture of herself with a large bucket on her head. Quite amazing.
So normal kids really, living in a very different environment. It is going to be an interesting year.
Nevertheless my first day went like this: Arrive at 7am to find the school still locked. Wait 25min for the Principal. He escorts me in, asks my religion & wonders when I will do the morning prayer for the school. Uh.... He can't tell me my schedule because he doesn't know it so I wait until after prayer. At 8:05 (class starts at 8) I receive my schedule for the day--7 classes: 4 English 8, 2 Art! & 1 Geography class (In total I have 5 English Classes, 2 Geography & 3 Art classes). Go! A maniac day....and a maniac week, but I survived and I think the kids understood some of what I said & asked of them.
Let me describe my English 8E classroom though because its something I'm still coming to grips with. 35ish students in the oldest school building I have ever seen. This class is mostly learners who have failed multiple times and have just been moved on---the average age is probably 16, the oldest 21. There are 3 holes in the concrete of the classroom...big enough for a donkey or goat to walk in. Not all the kids have a desk or chair--some sit on boards. On Thursday it rained so hard I had to ford a lake to get to my classroom, then they couldn't hear me because the sound of the rain on the tin roof was deafening. Then the class started to leak--by the ceiling and through the holes in the wall--so a mad scramble ensued. This of course, on top of the lack of pens in this class--I don't think too much got accomplished. After class a soaking wet Bingo was still wimpering outside at which I told the principal I was going home to drop him off and marched off the 15mins home & back & locked him in. It was quite the day, but it got much better from there.
Interesting facts about my learners:
Average Age for my gr.8 classes: 15-16
Families: most kids do not have both parents but live with grandparents, some parents, etc.
Walk to school: a few live close, but 2-3km is pretty understandable; some walk as long as 2 hours.
Important things to the kids: the usual: soccer, netball, parents, love. More than one girl stated she like to carry water and showed a picture of herself with a large bucket on her head. Quite amazing.
So normal kids really, living in a very different environment. It is going to be an interesting year.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Bingo--our dog, and other surprises
We arrived in Omungwelume to find a few surprises awaiting us. The general shock to the dorms (where kids sleep 12 to a room) & classes, etc. which Chris described were a few of them. Another is that we appear to have inherited a dog---Bingo.
Apparently the last couple there adopted a dog sometime in August as a puppy. So he's had some training & has been set "free" really only for about a month so far. He was given to a local family who already has a dog, but according to another volunteer, they are eager to give him away.
We met Bingo on our first adventure out in the village. We walked through the houses, to my school (less than 1km away), then up to the shebeens (bars) & stores. He followed us the whole way, being playful & wanting attention. We have a great number of small cuca shops in our village & did in fact find a local bakery (which makes bread, period) & a couple of groceries that sell half decent cabbage & large bags of potatoes, onions, etc. We even saw grapes! Oshakati is not far away though & has at least 3 large grocery stores as well as many other things to explore & lots of vege cuisine.
Anyway,Bingo stayed with the group the rest of the week & was fed by us...slowly a few other dogs joined her including her mom "Big Mama" & a few stray cats. We've agreed to feed Bingo for the year, but first he needs a little extra training--including getting him to stop eating cow pies & garbage!
We are looking forward to our year ahead, teaching should be difficult & rewarding (I am feeling a big more confident though), & the village & locals should bring us many more surprises.
Apparently the last couple there adopted a dog sometime in August as a puppy. So he's had some training & has been set "free" really only for about a month so far. He was given to a local family who already has a dog, but according to another volunteer, they are eager to give him away.
We met Bingo on our first adventure out in the village. We walked through the houses, to my school (less than 1km away), then up to the shebeens (bars) & stores. He followed us the whole way, being playful & wanting attention. We have a great number of small cuca shops in our village & did in fact find a local bakery (which makes bread, period) & a couple of groceries that sell half decent cabbage & large bags of potatoes, onions, etc. We even saw grapes! Oshakati is not far away though & has at least 3 large grocery stores as well as many other things to explore & lots of vege cuisine.
Anyway,Bingo stayed with the group the rest of the week & was fed by us...slowly a few other dogs joined her including her mom "Big Mama" & a few stray cats. We've agreed to feed Bingo for the year, but first he needs a little extra training--including getting him to stop eating cow pies & garbage!
We are looking forward to our year ahead, teaching should be difficult & rewarding (I am feeling a big more confident though), & the village & locals should bring us many more surprises.
WorldTeach Orientation
We've been doing our WorldTeach orientation now for ten days and it's been quite an intense experience. Our days tend to be fairly long with many sessions on Namibian culture and language (taught by our field director) or on how to teach Namibian children led by me). We spent four days at Eengedjo Secondary School (which by coincidence is the same school that I'll be teaching at this year). During those days, we ran a sort of summer school for kids. This was intended as extra teaching practice for our volunteers, the majority of which have never formally taught before. Attendance slowly increased over the week and we had over 100 kids by Friday. Some of the kids were very young (3-4 years old) with absolute no English experience, so it was a challenging time for many of our volunteers. 
The condition of the school was a bit of a shock. We stayed in the hostel part of the school, where many of the learners live throughout the school year. Initially, there was no water or electricity. When we did get power, it was only one 2400W circuit, so we were limited to using two elements at a time on our stove. This makes cooking dinner for 30+ people a slow process. Water came and went throughout the week which will apparently be the situation for the rest of our year. We got eaten alive by mosquitoes on the first night but we're all on mefloquine or some other medication, so malaria shouldn't be a problem. I slept a lot better on the following nights once we put up our mosquito net up. It was the psychological effect of the night that was most rewarding. I found the sounds of mosquitoes buzzing in my year to be quite distracting on the previous night. Other people had no mosquitoes but faced bedbugs instead. Pick your poison, I guess.
Classroom conditions were also shocking to everyone. I'm not sure what happened in the last couple days of school in December but localized hurricane seems like a possibility. The classrooms had garbage strewn amongst them and many of the desks and chairs were broken. Broken glass was also very common on the floor. This had most of us pretty depressed but after cleaning the rooms for an hour, the improvement to both the classrooms and our morale was noticeable.
The cumulative effects of the school and hostel experience were pretty rough on some of the volunteers. There were a lot of tears and general culture shock. Chloe and I, because we had already spent two months in Africa, were a little more hardened to the experience. One volunteer decided that he couldn't handle a year here and has already returned home.
We did get a chance to look at the house we'll be living in but haven't been able to go inside yet. We've been assured that teacher housing is much nicer than student housing but are keeping our expectations low. We are in pretty good spirits right now and are thoroughly enjoying spending time with the other thirty volunteers. They bring a wide range of ideas and experiences to the country and we are looking forward to spending one more week with native English speakers before we head into our village for the year.
The condition of the school was a bit of a shock. We stayed in the hostel part of the school, where many of the learners live throughout the school year. Initially, there was no water or electricity. When we did get power, it was only one 2400W circuit, so we were limited to using two elements at a time on our stove. This makes cooking dinner for 30+ people a slow process. Water came and went throughout the week which will apparently be the situation for the rest of our year. We got eaten alive by mosquitoes on the first night but we're all on mefloquine or some other medication, so malaria shouldn't be a problem. I slept a lot better on the following nights once we put up our mosquito net up. It was the psychological effect of the night that was most rewarding. I found the sounds of mosquitoes buzzing in my year to be quite distracting on the previous night. Other people had no mosquitoes but faced bedbugs instead. Pick your poison, I guess.
Classroom conditions were also shocking to everyone. I'm not sure what happened in the last couple days of school in December but localized hurricane seems like a possibility. The classrooms had garbage strewn amongst them and many of the desks and chairs were broken. Broken glass was also very common on the floor. This had most of us pretty depressed but after cleaning the rooms for an hour, the improvement to both the classrooms and our morale was noticeable.
The cumulative effects of the school and hostel experience were pretty rough on some of the volunteers. There were a lot of tears and general culture shock. Chloe and I, because we had already spent two months in Africa, were a little more hardened to the experience. One volunteer decided that he couldn't handle a year here and has already returned home.
We did get a chance to look at the house we'll be living in but haven't been able to go inside yet. We've been assured that teacher housing is much nicer than student housing but are keeping our expectations low. We are in pretty good spirits right now and are thoroughly enjoying spending time with the other thirty volunteers. They bring a wide range of ideas and experiences to the country and we are looking forward to spending one more week with native English speakers before we head into our village for the year.
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