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I got in an argument with the principal and deputy principal over computers. I thought that the teachers should be able to have access to the two school computers and the principal thought they shouldn’t, even if they were under my supervision. He insists that they will break them, and the school doesn’t have the money to fix them. So once again I’m faced with a case of having a resource and wasting it. He said that when the school receives more computers then the teachers could use them, but I pointed out that: 1. It wasn’t likely that the school would receive computers in the near future (and I certainly have no intention of helping them get any at this point) and 2. If they did receive them no one would be around to teach them to use them. He insists that if the teachers want to learn to use computers they should pay and take classes.
Then the argument side-tracked; the computers are located in his office and he discussed how he didn’t want the teachers in his office. At that time the deputy principal jumped in and used her line that she had been a South African teacher for 30 years and people would never be allowed to go freely in the principal’s office. What she happens to overlook is the fact that this is not her “South African” school- this is a village school and different than her former town school that had money and a computer in every classroom where she used to work. This school has few resources and those happen to be kept in the principal’s office: the TV and computers are there (both off limit to teachers for fear of breaking), the copy machine, the stapler, paper, the school stamp, etc. If the principal wants total control over the office then fine, but put school materials in the resource room.
It is no wonder people are hesitant about donating and helping village schools….
Then the argument side-tracked; the computers are located in his office and he discussed how he didn’t want the teachers in his office. At that time the deputy principal jumped in and used her line that she had been a South African teacher for 30 years and people would never be allowed to go freely in the principal’s office. What she happens to overlook is the fact that this is not her “South African” school- this is a village school and different than her former town school that had money and a computer in every classroom where she used to work. This school has few resources and those happen to be kept in the principal’s office: the TV and computers are there (both off limit to teachers for fear of breaking), the copy machine, the stapler, paper, the school stamp, etc. If the principal wants total control over the office then fine, but put school materials in the resource room.
It is no wonder people are hesitant about donating and helping village schools….
posted by Cait at 10:32 AM
2 Comments:
Typical. We found that donated computers provided the immediate problem of security. They were lovked up and stored. Shown only to touring visitors as potential but never used - because they would break or be stolen or something. When we DID hook computers up online the teachers were hard to teach because they didn't like making "mistakes" or not knowing in front of their peers. When they finally DID get it, the first thing they did was do job searches daily to get a job closer to the city. some suceeded and we had to start all over.
But there were enough to make a slow growing project throughout RSA. Really slow, but we are poised for an "overnight success"!
www.wizzydigital.org
www.wizzy.org.za
Cait -
I loved the letter from Constance. Obviously your experience together in the classroom is something both you and she will remember forever in a positive light, despite whatever ups and downs may have come along the way.
I am curious as to what your view is of your Peace Corps contributions now that you have been in the country for a while. I remember Paul Theroux's observations after being a volunteer in Malawi and wonder if you imagine a similar result 20 years down the line if you go back to your village schools.
Good luck, I love reading what you write.
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