Friday, July 25th – Day 7
*** Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy
Our group drove up to the double-fenced entrance way and signed in to Oprah’s all girl school. As you could imagine, due to the controversy surrounding many different issues the school is not opt to volunteer group tours (especially not during the school year). We were very lucky to get a tour through the different buildings by the executive director (principal). As we walked around we could see that Oprah truly appreciates aesthetics. She believes the positive effects of creating a beautiful environment for the girls. She has endorsed local tradesmen and craftsmen in the process. Oprah has personally hand-picked all of the artwork and gives back to the community by paying the locals. The school has two alleys: one leads to the buildings for learning and the other leads to the residential areas. The school has only been around for 3 years and so now this year will be a determining year. As the oldest class prepares to take its matric exam, the girls will be compared to other students within South Africa. Now the school can be assessed to see if this social and academic experiment truly has positive academic effects and advantages for the girls. Once Oprah can show that these girls are as achieving as other well privileged schools, hopefully the idea will spread and create more such schools for disadvantaged students and perhaps there will be less controversy surrounding the school. But then, if her girls don’t do too well, well then a lot of the structure needs to be re-examined.
How are the girls selected? Oprah personally interviews the girls and she asks such questions as: What do you read? Figures out if the girl shows inclination for leadership. Determines that the total income at home is no more than $70 dollars per month.
They are of varying faiths, including: Muslim, Hindu, Christian, ancestral worship, etc.
At school the girls’ education focuses on the maths, sciences, and performing arts in order to create an integrated experience. Wow, when we walked into their amphitheater we were blown away with the movie theater like cushioned sets, walkway for lighting connected to the ceiling, and the large stage for performances. Most impressive was the library. Again you can see that it stressed beauty and perfection. There were computer stations and side study rooms. We were glad to learn that each year the girls get to select 5 books that they can make their own before vacation. The idea is for the girls to build their own personal library and I would hope help encourage their younger siblings to also read. The girls certainly do show that they appreciate the treat of owning their own book!
Hmmm . . . As we walked around I kept thinking about the huge disconnect between the girls’ home life and the Oprah school. At the Oprah school they have a wellness center (that provides them with routine check-ups and additional eye and teeth needs), a fully stocked and connected library, clean and equipped classrooms, beautiful and well designed dorm suites, etc. It is a huge culture shock! How can the girls later go back home and see their siblings and families struggle their daily battles with simple needs such as water, electricity and heat that the girls do not have to worry about anymore? Do they become more motivated to make something of themselves through school? Do they end up less motivated and feel unfair? How could they possible feel about the disparity? How do they feel during and then after they make their phone calls home on Friday nights? Talk about resilience and ability to move between both worlds!
I wish we could have sat down with a group of girls and asked them such questions.
Imagine, a school with 225 girls and 45 clubs available to them!
I was interested to learn, after we spoke with a school administrator, that the school is looking for teaching internships, especially in the sciences and maths. I am glad to hear that they are opening their doors to foreigners, outsiders and to those who can broaden views on teaching styles and materials. Since it is a new school in a new era, these “Mandela girls” are being taught by teachers who create their own curriculum and then plan to unify along the way.
Hopefully it will not begin too much of a situation of entitlement. These girls have been given the opportunity to focus solely on school, taken out of a harmful environment, and have been promised a full ride to college/university. I hope that they will show the world how far they can go with all that they have been offered, as survivors and leaders.
Separate is not equal!
High security because these girls are celebrities when outside of the school.
My observation:
The South African student experience is very similar to an immigrant’s experience. Similar in the ways they have to struggle and the differences they face amongst other students that have more advantages at the start.
- Contrast between the generations
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Lecture with Dr. Jonathan Jansen (former Dean of Faculty, U. of Pretoria)
Jansen (the first Dean of Education at the University of Pretoria) had suggested our day to be a stark contrast as he had done with a group of his school- aged students in the Pretoria public schools.
Sneaky, but powerful!
Our discussion began with our reactions to the 2 nationalist monuments. We compared the white memorial and the black memorial.
The white monument was a traditional structure that shows how people are holding on to their pasts. Its story parallels how the American pilgrims came to take the land from the Native Americans and how they had to revolt against the British to earn their independence; meanwhile, requesting that the Native Americans pay takes and meet their demands.
The black memorial is a modern structure that gives hope for the future. It shows the systematic racism that compares with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The apartheid museum stresses that its intent is not to make white visitors feel guilty or the black visitors to feel bad, but to educate the youth and the population. (hmmm. . . why isn't there more representation for what the coloured, the Chinese or the Indians had to face during apartheid?).
It came as a surprise to learn that Jonathan Jansen did not approve of the apartheid museum.
The design of the museum would create a feeling of cognitive dissonance for many viewing an unfamiliar, unbelievable, and contrasting truth. It is truly hard to confront a believe system, a history that is different from the truths that you have been raised to believe your whole life. So imagine if a young white girl comes into the museum and here she sees such brutal and extreme living conditions of treatment of black people by 'her people', the white people. Does she automatically see it as a possible truth or something that she can learn to accept or quite simply does she refuse the idea and instead see it as a myth, a joke, something unreal? There would be shock, denial and a defensive approach. Will she take on a collective guilt? Will she feel afraid and confused because what she sees now in front of her does not match what her teachers and her parents have been telling her all along? Will she feel a strong anger because of the lies/ altered truths that she has been told all along?
What about an older person that has lived these misconceptions all of their lives and has based many of his/her decisions on these stories/beliefs all along?
There own personal narrative may be shattered. This would be scary.
That is why Jansen believes that the museum was designed for the audience of black students.
The goal and necessary mission of the apartheid museum, I believe, is to encourage visitors to suspend their previous judments and prejudices so that they can come in through the doors with an open mind and be willing to take on something unfamiliar and perhaps new.
The path of recognition to acceptance is what the fight has been about and what it will continue to be about!
Our meeting with him ran about 40 minutes longer than he had inteneded :) Both sides appeared motivated by the intellectual discussion.
Saturday's paper - he was on the front page - we were mentioned and because of our responses to our questions he was quotes as saying to us, "are you kidding?" It appears as though we were unprepared for what he said or perhaps unable to handle what it was that he was saying. However, I would like to think that we had earned his respect as a group and that we were able to give him an alternate perspective to even his own views.
Sneaky, but powerful!
Our discussion began with our reactions to the 2 nationalist monuments. We compared the white memorial and the black memorial.
The white monument was a traditional structure that shows how people are holding on to their pasts. Its story parallels how the American pilgrims came to take the land from the Native Americans and how they had to revolt against the British to earn their independence; meanwhile, requesting that the Native Americans pay takes and meet their demands.
The black memorial is a modern structure that gives hope for the future. It shows the systematic racism that compares with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The apartheid museum stresses that its intent is not to make white visitors feel guilty or the black visitors to feel bad, but to educate the youth and the population. (hmmm. . . why isn't there more representation for what the coloured, the Chinese or the Indians had to face during apartheid?).
It came as a surprise to learn that Jonathan Jansen did not approve of the apartheid museum.
The design of the museum would create a feeling of cognitive dissonance for many viewing an unfamiliar, unbelievable, and contrasting truth. It is truly hard to confront a believe system, a history that is different from the truths that you have been raised to believe your whole life. So imagine if a young white girl comes into the museum and here she sees such brutal and extreme living conditions of treatment of black people by 'her people', the white people. Does she automatically see it as a possible truth or something that she can learn to accept or quite simply does she refuse the idea and instead see it as a myth, a joke, something unreal? There would be shock, denial and a defensive approach. Will she take on a collective guilt? Will she feel afraid and confused because what she sees now in front of her does not match what her teachers and her parents have been telling her all along? Will she feel a strong anger because of the lies/ altered truths that she has been told all along?
What about an older person that has lived these misconceptions all of their lives and has based many of his/her decisions on these stories/beliefs all along?
There own personal narrative may be shattered. This would be scary.
That is why Jansen believes that the museum was designed for the audience of black students.
The goal and necessary mission of the apartheid museum, I believe, is to encourage visitors to suspend their previous judments and prejudices so that they can come in through the doors with an open mind and be willing to take on something unfamiliar and perhaps new.
The path of recognition to acceptance is what the fight has been about and what it will continue to be about!
Our meeting with him ran about 40 minutes longer than he had inteneded :) Both sides appeared motivated by the intellectual discussion.
Saturday's paper - he was on the front page - we were mentioned and because of our responses to our questions he was quotes as saying to us, "are you kidding?" It appears as though we were unprepared for what he said or perhaps unable to handle what it was that he was saying. However, I would like to think that we had earned his respect as a group and that we were able to give him an alternate perspective to even his own views.
Voortrekker Monument
Visual: pretentious, old-fashioned, huge cube of a monument made of granite.
What a day of contrasts! A well planned day! My words cannot serve justice to the experiential learning that occurred as the day went by and my thoughts and questions that will continue to follow afterwards.
The monument commemorates the Afrikaners fight for Independence from the English in the early-mid 1800's and about the struggles faces with African tribes along their settlement progression.
We had a very informative tour from a retired man who was genuinely very proud of how far he could trace his Afrikans heritage. He asked us, "Imagine if you had to pack up everything you would need for the rest of your life time in a wagon! What would you pack?" Now had we this tour before the apartheid museum I believe that I would have been more sympathetic to his cause and his claim. However, as it was I could only think: "Well, what if you had nothing to beging with it? Then what?"
I firmly believe that he had the right to be proud of his heritage and also share the struggles from his own personal perspective, but I just could not be as sympathetic/empathetic/ appreciative due to the deep contrasts of the things experienced that day!
Meaningful theme:
'We for you South Africa' = "Ons vir jou Suid Afrika" was written on a stone sarcophagus within the monument.
Hmmm . . . whose South Africa? Who is making the laws and who gets to enforce those laws?
Covers 2.1 acres (1 hecter) and looks onto a beautiful landscape of Pretoria.
What a day of contrasts! A well planned day! My words cannot serve justice to the experiential learning that occurred as the day went by and my thoughts and questions that will continue to follow afterwards.
The monument commemorates the Afrikaners fight for Independence from the English in the early-mid 1800's and about the struggles faces with African tribes along their settlement progression.
We had a very informative tour from a retired man who was genuinely very proud of how far he could trace his Afrikans heritage. He asked us, "Imagine if you had to pack up everything you would need for the rest of your life time in a wagon! What would you pack?" Now had we this tour before the apartheid museum I believe that I would have been more sympathetic to his cause and his claim. However, as it was I could only think: "Well, what if you had nothing to beging with it? Then what?"
I firmly believe that he had the right to be proud of his heritage and also share the struggles from his own personal perspective, but I just could not be as sympathetic/empathetic/ appreciative due to the deep contrasts of the things experienced that day!
Meaningful theme:
'We for you South Africa' = "Ons vir jou Suid Afrika" was written on a stone sarcophagus within the monument.
Hmmm . . . whose South Africa? Who is making the laws and who gets to enforce those laws?
Edwin Smith meeting
Kudos to Edwin Smith, a prestigious and well-educated man, who has taken the time out of his busy schedule to stop by and check in on us throughout our stay at the University. It is unbelievable how humble he is and down to earth.
Overall, I must say that I have been feeling quite pampered and super impressed with the informative and passionate tour guides, the high-status lecture presenters and generally all of the connections we have been building along the way. The intellectual power shared on this trip has certainly sparked my passion to further myself in many ways.
Overall, I must say that I have been feeling quite pampered and super impressed with the informative and passionate tour guides, the high-status lecture presenters and generally all of the connections we have been building along the way. The intellectual power shared on this trip has certainly sparked my passion to further myself in many ways.
Wednesday, July 23rd: Day 5
"The Politics of Memory: What the Past Means Today"
**** Apartheid Museum
1st point. An ironic and discombobulating fact is that the Apartheid Museum is located in the Golden Reef City, which is a center that also has an amusement park and a Casino. Which came first? Hmmmm . . . . . really no better location?
Consider: Our tour guide had been positive throughout the tour and at the end we finished with a hope and dream for a brighter tomorrow for him and for his country.
Yet, it takes 10-20 years to change the economic and social structures of a nation (at least a generation!).
n only 14 years old – want change ASAP – general theme we've been hearing from our different speakers
n
Big Q: Consider the context of the environment (decade post apartheid).
– The message of the museum?
– Does it perhaps blow out of proportion certain details or perhaps leave out certain details and pictures to paint a particular side of the story?
– I always question what is the full story and is every narrative being shared and fairly expressed along the way?
**** Apartheid Museum
1st point. An ironic and discombobulating fact is that the Apartheid Museum is located in the Golden Reef City, which is a center that also has an amusement park and a Casino. Which came first? Hmmmm . . . . . really no better location?
Consider: Our tour guide had been positive throughout the tour and at the end we finished with a hope and dream for a brighter tomorrow for him and for his country.
Yet, it takes 10-20 years to change the economic and social structures of a nation (at least a generation!).
n only 14 years old – want change ASAP – general theme we've been hearing from our different speakers
n
Big Q: Consider the context of the environment (decade post apartheid).
– The message of the museum?
– Does it perhaps blow out of proportion certain details or perhaps leave out certain details and pictures to paint a particular side of the story?
– I always question what is the full story and is every narrative being shared and fairly expressed along the way?
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday, July 27th – day 9
Sunday, July 27th – day 9
Today we finally get to sleep in! Hoorah!
We are flying from Johannesburg to Cape Town today. Thank goodness it is just over a 2-hour flight! My body begins to ache when I think about the soon to be coming 18 hour flight.
Check in to the Oak Tree Lodge in Paarl. Unlike previous years we are not going to stay with a host family. Instead we will interact with the community after school hours and then arrange for a drive back to the lodge at night.
Our night activity will be at Bergendal Intermediate School. It is an evening Potjiekos.
I can’t wait to once again interact with the students and hear their stories and experience their eagerness to learn.
The general atmosphere thus far has been: Education is Freedom.
A powerful message that clearly motivates the students at all ages.
Additionally, I can’t wait to get to the Laundromat. We were all encouraged to pack light and now we are all starting to run out of clothing. Thank goodness we are all such an accepting group : )
Today we finally get to sleep in! Hoorah!
We are flying from Johannesburg to Cape Town today. Thank goodness it is just over a 2-hour flight! My body begins to ache when I think about the soon to be coming 18 hour flight.
Check in to the Oak Tree Lodge in Paarl. Unlike previous years we are not going to stay with a host family. Instead we will interact with the community after school hours and then arrange for a drive back to the lodge at night.
Our night activity will be at Bergendal Intermediate School. It is an evening Potjiekos.
I can’t wait to once again interact with the students and hear their stories and experience their eagerness to learn.
The general atmosphere thus far has been: Education is Freedom.
A powerful message that clearly motivates the students at all ages.
Additionally, I can’t wait to get to the Laundromat. We were all encouraged to pack light and now we are all starting to run out of clothing. Thank goodness we are all such an accepting group : )
Voortrekker Monument
*** Voortrekker Monument
Visual: pretentious, old-fashioned, huge cube of a granite and marble (on the inside).
From the top of the hill that the monument is on you can see a beautiful panorama of Pretoria. And thus the monument can also be seen from quite a distance away!
What a day of contrasts! A well planned day! My words cannot serve justice to the experiential learning that occurred as the day went by and my thoughts and questions that will continue to follow afterwards.
Our tour guide is a retired and passionate man who is eager to share the struggles faced by his direct Afrikaner ancestors in the 1800s.
The story of struggle and the trekkers journey presented from the Africana point of view is visually portrayed on marble slates, like a 90 meter comic strip. It shows how the white man negotiated and fought wars to get the land of the black natives. Then it focuses on the 1830s-1950’s Afrikaner’s struggle to win independence from the British.
The Afrikaner fight and unity slogan is “Ons vir jou Suid Afrika” = We for you South Africa.
Again, the mindset and notion of land ownership baffles me.
It was so frustrating to hear the story of this struggle right after the apartheid museum. How can one be so closely presented with the other!?!?! At one point the tour guide directed our attention to one scene were the Afrikaner trekker had to pack up his belongings into a wagon with a gnew (a black wildebeest that pulled the cart) and prepare his trek journey. He said, “Imagine if you had to pack up everything you would need for the rest of your lifetime in a wagon? What would you pack?”
Well jeez, what if you never even had anything to pack? What if you had no warning that you had to pack up? What a CONTRAST!
I was interested to learn that South Africa has 3 capitals: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town, and Bellefontaine (judicial/ appeal court).
Visual: pretentious, old-fashioned, huge cube of a granite and marble (on the inside).
From the top of the hill that the monument is on you can see a beautiful panorama of Pretoria. And thus the monument can also be seen from quite a distance away!
What a day of contrasts! A well planned day! My words cannot serve justice to the experiential learning that occurred as the day went by and my thoughts and questions that will continue to follow afterwards.
Our tour guide is a retired and passionate man who is eager to share the struggles faced by his direct Afrikaner ancestors in the 1800s.
The story of struggle and the trekkers journey presented from the Africana point of view is visually portrayed on marble slates, like a 90 meter comic strip. It shows how the white man negotiated and fought wars to get the land of the black natives. Then it focuses on the 1830s-1950’s Afrikaner’s struggle to win independence from the British.
The Afrikaner fight and unity slogan is “Ons vir jou Suid Afrika” = We for you South Africa.
Again, the mindset and notion of land ownership baffles me.
It was so frustrating to hear the story of this struggle right after the apartheid museum. How can one be so closely presented with the other!?!?! At one point the tour guide directed our attention to one scene were the Afrikaner trekker had to pack up his belongings into a wagon with a gnew (a black wildebeest that pulled the cart) and prepare his trek journey. He said, “Imagine if you had to pack up everything you would need for the rest of your lifetime in a wagon? What would you pack?”
Well jeez, what if you never even had anything to pack? What if you had no warning that you had to pack up? What a CONTRAST!
I was interested to learn that South Africa has 3 capitals: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town, and Bellefontaine (judicial/ appeal court).
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