Today I went into both the grade R (kindergarten) classes and taught the first lesson from the math packets that I made. The teachers had to translate of course…but I made a lot of gestures and such…so that the kids could understand me. I wanted to teach the first lesson, so that the teachers would have a better understanding of how to teach using the packets. The first lesson was about the number 0 ….there was several pages for the kids to trace a dotted outline of a zero, and several comical zero characters for the kids to color. Now, considering that this year will be over in January, you would assume that grade R learners would know how to hold a pencil or at least know how to color. However, they didn’t know and it broke my heart…so, I ended up showing them how to hold a pencil and also how to color. Teaching them to color, was more difficult than I thought it would be…in the U.S. kids are coloring at age two..and sometimes age one. However, some of these kids had never held a crayon before. So, they didn’t understand that you had to stay between the lines, or that you don’t have to press down on the paper with all you might for the color to appear. Some of them also colored in the same spot over and over and didn’t understand to color in a new area…they had layer after layer of coloring in the same spot. They had also not ever traced dotted lines to make letters before, so I had to show them how to do that. The coloring was easier for them, cause I was able to find the jumbo (fat) crayons that kindergartners usually use, cause it’s easier for them to hold. However, I wasn’t able to locate fat pencils, so it was a little more difficult for them. I showed them in the air how to draw a zero….to start at the top and go around in a circle. However, when they started tracing the dotted line zero, they would trace the same zero about 80 times!! Also, they are not used to having books…so at the start of the lesson, I had to show them which way to hold the workbook…right side up, and also to open the pages from right to left…it was blowing my mind that they didn’t understand these basic things, however, it’s understandable considering that they don’t have books at home and don’t ever have to opportunity to write or color. Then, I had to explain that they needed to start on the left side of the line when begging to trace or right…a lot of them where starting at the right side for some reason…I guess because no one had ever shown them to start on the left. It broke my heart that they didn’t know how to do these basic things…however, they do now…cause I taught them today…and if that’s all I do while I’m here, then I’ve accomplished a great thing!
While I was teaching all this stuff to the kids, I explained to the teacher why I was teaching them all of it, as a way to model teaching skills. I figure that if I can model teaching skills to the teachers, the students for years to come will benefit from better teaching…not just the ones in the class. What was really great, is that the teachers loved having me in the room helping them, and seemed like they were soaking up everything I was saying…and they asked me to come back again and help them. I plan to make many more workbooks for this grade…so they will definitely get my help. I need to sit down with them however, and show them what the curriculum guidelines are for what they are supposed to be teaching in grade R. For instance, they should have been showing the kids how to hold a pencil at the start of the year. So, I plan to sit with them before the next year (starts in January) starts and help them to make an outline on what they should be teaching for the year. I think they want to teach, but I think they have a hard time understanding the curriculum guidelines…so, since I understand it, I think I can help with that. However, all these teachers for each grade at the school needs help with it…knowing what they should be teaching…wheewww…so much to do and so little time! Now I understand why we are here for two years!!
And…I just thought I was going to be teaching computer classes…we have so many more opportunities than 90% of the rest of the world, and we don’t even realize it! I think I might be learning as much as they are!!
What was really great, it that I never once during each hour long class had to correct any child’s behavior. I’m not kidding with I say that they were perfect little angels…they never talked, never got up from their desk, and paid attention to everything that I said to them, and even more amazing…they did everything I told them to do…WOW!! These kids are yearning to learn…even at age 5…and soaked up everything I told them. Now can you imagine a kindergarten class in the U.S. being this well behaved? No, because they have so much stimulation already with TV, toys, etc…these kids don’t have that stuff and they understand and appreciate learning. Now, I understand why I was told to turn the TV off and go outside & play when I was young!!
It was truly amazing day, and I’m truly blessed!! That one hour alone made everything that it took to get here by me and everyone else, worth it! I can’t even imagine what the next two years will hold!
After school was over, I walked home with my host mom and another teacher. During our walk, we started talking about race relations. During the conversation, I said that there was no difference between me and them. Then, they asked “Do you think we are as good as you?” I couldn’t believe they asked me this…I’ve been working in the school for several weeks now, and I thought it was apparent that I feel they are the same as me. So, I said yes…we are the same….I’m not better than you just because I’m white…color doesn’t matter! They stopped completely still in the middle of the road and just looked at each other…with their mouths hanging open. So, I said I’m serious…we are the same…we deserve the same things…we should be treated the same. Then they said you are not like the white people here…they call us baboons and such! Uggg…I said, that makes me angry! They said, are all white people in the U.S. thinking like you…are there black people in the U.S. So, I said yes most white Americans think the way I do…we think that all people are the same no matter their color…then I told them that actually other white people in other countries felt the same way, that all people are the same no matter the color. They were amazed by this…they thought that all white people all over the world thought they were better than black people. They were also amazed when I told them there were many black people in America…they asked if they went to the same schools, churches, shopping in the same stores, living in the same “villages” etc. I told them yes; for the most part…they were astounded! I told them that we are all the same…and they just kept stopping walking and looking at me…I asked them why they were so shocked, and they said because they had never heard a white person to say that before. Then they started telling me what it was like for them a few years ago before apartheid ended…that they couldn’t go to the same schools, churches, stores, etc as whites. That when they worked on the farms for whites, they had to call the boss and misses. When they went to the grocery they couldn’t go inside, they had to stand at the door and tell the white owner what they wanted…then, they had to lay their money on the counter, and not hand it to the clerk, because they were not allowed to touch a white person…cause they white people thought they were dirty. They were not allowed in certain areas of SA…and if they entered they would be arrested. I knew all of these things, but to have them to tell me about these first hand experiences, was heartbreaking and made me mad.
Then, they asked me if I was embarrassed that I was living with a black family? I about had a heart attack…I’ve been working with these teachers and living with the family for over a month now…and I had no idea that they would think I could even think that! I told them no, I was lucky to live with such a wonderful family, and I had no reason at all to feel embarrassed.
After this amazing conversation (there was more, but too much to type), I realized why the teachers were having such a hard time trusting me…they see the color of my skin and think about that I must feel the same way about them as white SA…I thought that by working with them at the school, and living with my host mom, they would know that I don’t think that way…however, I guess I was wrong!
What is truly amazing is that these people invited me into their schools and home because they wanted help, even though they were thinking that I thought I was better than them…yet, they have treated me only with dignity and respect!! They are truly teaching me more than I could ever teach them! I’m truly learning the meaning of being humble!!
And, all of the above happened in just one day…so, let me say it again, I can’t imagine what the next two years will hold!!
