The other day a wise woman said:
We can do everything to get children into school, but if the quality of what they are being taught is no good, they still are not accessing education!
(Please note: Not exact quote!)
Other people proceeded to tear the quality of South Africa's education to pieces.
One American person even declared that they weep for us when they see the state of our education.
Matric exams are fast approaching for 2008.
Can you help those kids who are preparing for it, but did not receive a decent education in the build up? Despite having been so determined to get to school each day. (I could slap every single teacher striking today!)
Do you know of any Matric kid who attends a sub-standard school? Perhaps your maid's child? Your manicurist's brother? You know your life, and who you know, and who might be about to sit their Matric.
Would you sit with them once a week for an hour, or two, to help "plug the education holes". How to analyse a 3 verse poem. To figure out what x is. Write a basic essay for their english exam. Make sure their history knowledge is not confused.
Discuss what they want to do next year. And in five years. And help them plot a course for this. Watch and aid them while they fill out university applications. Even sponsor these applications.
You don't need to set out to change the kid's life. That is a bit overwhelming. But one adult having the confidence in a child can cause the child to acheive to the most starteling beautiful extents. Kids are incredible like that. One or two small acts can help someone just that much younger than you, that much more frightened of life than you, to get somewhere.
And maybe we'll start putting some quality back into what our kids get out of their school day.
Cause we all know how desperate we are for the next generation to be educated!
4 comments:
I couldn't agree with you more! Just showing a slight interest and providing a little support can make the biggest difference. Sometimes having someone believe in you provides significant motivation and the confidence to try.
Even if an hour with someone you know is all one can do and it feels hopeless it really isn't, small improvements often have exponential effects. My advice - if you do help out someone you know the best subjects to target are Maths and English. Not only are these most important for getting into tertiary education and (arguably) a job but improving in these two subjects leads to improvements in most of the other subjects.
In the words of the man of the moment - "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world"-Nelson Mandela
Brilliant post Champs - the message cannot be stressed enough. How do we get it out there even further? It certainly needs to be!
Thank you for this...Little by little, at least it is a start.
Cheers
Great post. "Formal" education might suck. But the biggest damage we as parent do is by not being part of their education. we must be part of it. To build the foundation and plug the holes.
Seargent Moods! - Well, you know you & your initiative is the main inspiration for all of this!
There's an article in yesterday's paper about how we must start focusing more on Maths & Science. And I really agree with your views on this - English & Maths are vital!
Chikita - my other inspiration in this! I have given up on creating a whole initiative package, and just giving out little by little.
Angry African - well, I have yet to meet you but considering your experience, I reckon you could also be of GREAT help in this area! This is an area I really want to work on (see next post!) so please keep commenting & helping out with ideas!
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