2004 TEACHERS WITHOUT BORDERS
MATHS AND SCIENCE PROJECT: PORT SHEPSTONE
5-9 July 2004

REPORT BY PAULINE DUNCAN ADMINISTRATOR: PORT SHEPSTONE

2004 has been the fourth consecutive year that Yunus Peer and teachers from Hawaii (TWB-SA) have conducted workshops in Port Shepstone for Grade 12 educators and the third time for Grade 12 learners.
231 educators and at least 1510 learners from the PS District have attended the courses. And when this is cascaded to the respective schools, communities and homes, literally thousands more people have been touched by the project. There is also the added benefit of educators who have attended the workshops who have since moved to other schools that have not participated.

For a number of reasons, planning for 2004 was difficult. However, the outcome was the best ever! And it was especially good to have two phases of maths and physical science.

There’s a saying about the past being behind us, the future being ahead and the present being precisely that, a gift. And this was the year of gifts a-plenty.

MONDAY 5 July 2004: GRADE 12 LEARNERS” WORKSHOP

Attendance by Grade 12 learners of Monday’s workshop was amazing! We didn’t take a register or do an actual count (more’s the pity) but there were at least 900 learners and this number was divided into 4 classes ­ in 2 ordinary classrooms, the team teaching room and the assembly hall! At one stage, the class in the main hall numbered at least 400.

Were the teachers from Hawaii fazed by this? Not at all. In fact, the levels of discipline, concentration and participation were remarkable. I stood at the back of the hall and all I could see were the backs of literally hundreds of learners, all with their heads down and doing the task set before them.

A big help in the hall was the presence of local educators who were able to help those needing advice or assistance.

At the end of the day, all the learners assembled in the hall. 2 of them spoke their thanks and then we were given one of the most precious gifts of all ­ the gift of 800 + magnificent voices singing Shosholoza. Amazing!

TUESDAY 6 July 2004 to FRIDAY 9 July 2004: EDUCATORS’ WORKSHOPS

80 educators in all attended the workshops for Maths and Science. For Jim Clarke and Jim Metz (Jim2), it was their second visit and those educators who had attended the workshops in previous years were really excited to see them ­ and vice versa!

The numbers of educators attending varied over the days, depending on other commitments such as court cases or memorial services, writing examinations etc. What was evident, though, was the sense of importance that the participants attached to being there for the maximum time possible.

Accommodation at the Port Shepstone Senior Primary School hostel was ideal. And it also made it possible for educators living far away to attend. Those staying there were asked to bring their own bedding, which they did, and the TWB vehicles assisted with transporting luggage on Tuesday and Friday.

And then there was the special invitation to us to join the “hostel dwellers” for a braai on Thursday evening at 20:30. For all of us, this was the second supper of the evening but the food was so delicious that we couldn¹t resist it. And more than that, the spirit of generosity and outreach to us was really appreciated.

Although the Friday of the workshop week is always special because of the sense of accomplishment felt by all participants, as well as the touching final ceremony, it is always tinged with sadness because what has been looked forward to for so long is almost over.

This year was no exception. Many people who have been part of the success of the project over the years were there to hear the tributes paid to Yunus Peer and the teachers in word and song.

During the week I quoted the following words of Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, the architect of Bantu Education, and Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 to 1966, and I quote them again:

When I have control of Native education, I will reform it so that Natives will be taught from childhood to realise equality with Europeans is not for them. What is the use of teaching a Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice? Education must train and teach people in accordance with their opportunities in life.

The Bantu Education Act, established in 1953, did outrageous harm to our people and our country. And this harm struck very deep indeed, so much so that the effects are still felt today and will continue to resound for many years.

Forget, we never can and never should; forgive, hopefully; but what we can do is reach out to one another in our country, our province, our community and in your case, across the seas.

Yunus Peer and his family, the teachers over the past four years and all those involved in the Teachers without Borders Maths and Science Project will never truly realise the positive impact that their work has made. But, believe me, much that happened or was spoken will be remembered, will influence positively and will resound in the schools and homes of our community for generations to come.

It has been a real privilege to be part of this project. Thank you, one and all.

Pauline Duncan
Administrator: Teachers without Borders Maths and Science Project: Port Shepstone
2004-07-09