experiences and observations from Amstelhof

Week of Service Learning:

The students at Amstelhof:
They loved having visitors in their classrooms! They were genuinely interested to find out about life in America. They asked about the cars, the schools, the clothes, the homes, etc.

Similar to our students here, each class had students willing to push the limits, students happy just reaching the limits, students there to socialize and tease others students, etc. However, in contrast to our students, these students were able keep the class going even if the teachers would walk out to run an errand or escort a visitor around the school. Even when the teacher left the room the students would continue with the started work. There was no fuss from either direction. That is just surprising.

Just imagine 25 teachers for 786 students! There were 2 administrators for the school, one principal and 1 deputy (our version of a vice-principal). The craziest thing was that there were no substitute teachers. So classes had to join together or the class without a teacher may have to divide up and join other classes.

The teachers at Amstelhof:
I was most impressed with how the teachers were willing to work as a family and also outside of their written obligations. The classes they taught had somewhere in the 30’s and sometimes in the 40’s number of learners per class.

There was a variety. Although I would say it paralleled what generally happens in our school. It seemed like the newer teachers were more willing to learn how to take advantage of the new technology (Internet usage for them and their students and creating an online blog) than the older teachers who had become comfortable with their ways.

Both teachers and students were curious to know how I felt and how Americans might feel about having a black president. They were certainly in support of seeing what would happen if Obama won the presidency.

Surprising comparison: Some public schools in Paarl practiced prayer within the classroom. At the beginning and end of the day students said the “Our Father” and alternated between English and Afrikans every other day. It was said as a class by everyone, even the Muslim kids in the class.

There was no heat within the school, similar to how most average homes did not have heat. It was hard to consider how much the kids had gotten used to already and what they accepted as just is. I wonder if these heating/cooling conditions are the same in all schools and how it would vary in a well privileged school.

If I could do it again I would request that I visit a predominantly white school and other more affluent schools in the area; simply so that I could draw more comparisons and get a more full picture of different expectations and backgrounds.