The Grove Primary School

The Grove Primary School

In South Africa, publicly funded schools can charge fees. The public money means that they are able to charge less than a completely private school, but the fees enable them to offer more than a completely public school. For instance, our school has 50% of the funding coming from the government, and 50% from fees. Schools such as this are designated as 'class C schools' in South Africa.

In the American system, I think that a similar idea was discussed under the moniker 'school vouchers'. So far as I know, the proposed voucher systems did not allow as much curriculum standardization as the South African model, where in order to receive public funds schools must include things like some instruction in indigenous African languages (Xhosa in the Western Cape) and Afrikaans, a Dutch derived language spoken by the descendants of the earliest white settlers. Students are also getting a balanced introduction to religious beliefs including; Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and African animist beliefs. Contrast that to the voucher system proposed in the United States, where the purpose was often, in my view, religious indoctrination.

For that reason, and others, I never really supported the voucher concept.  I guess I also believed it would lead to deeper inequities, as the people that could afford to pay more would, and leave others behind.

But those were the thoughts of a younger man, one that didn't actually have children to put his theories to test on. Now, as I participate in a system where I can use financial resources to provide my children  an advantage, I have to ask myself, "am I getting $2000 a year back in terms of each child's education?"  Sadly, the answer is, "YES". I wish that weren't the case. I wish that our public education system were this good and better, I'll be returning to it soon enough. But I don't think it is. Let me try and explain why.

Student art. Good colors make all the difference.

First, there is an art program. We don't have one in the Montana, programs have been cut to provide more funding for the basics; reading, writing and arithmetic.  Here, there is a dedicated art teacher, an art room, and the a culture that strongly supports the arts in school. Students spend at least one hour a week working on art projects with the teacher. She's talented. I have to admit, I'm not sure the experience would be universal without such a good teacher. She's a strong personality and tolerates no nonsense from the students. She has managed to create a culture at the Grove where students are serious about doing a good job on art projects. They work in after hours art clubs, and our boys continue many of the projects at home.

Recently, there was an art auction fundraiser at the school. Wine was served, and we were all asked to bring a plate of hors d'oeuvres. Smartly dressed seventh graders served the food, while we bid on art, looked at art, drank wine, and talked to parents.

Art auction

There is a technology class where students work with light tools to create metal and wood works. I suppose we called this 'shop', but didn't get to it until seventh grade. I think it is another creative outlet for students. Maybe more appealing to students that aren't artistically inclined? Abe's been really interested in 'French Knitting'.

I like the math curriculum.  For instance, students are asked to find a way to combine 2, 5, 3 and 7  with multiplication, division, addition and subtraction to be 24 (3 x 7 + 5 - 2 works). The emphasis is on numeracy rather than memorization. There are also a lot of nice exercises based on estimation, and orders of magnitude. Very good!

In spite of uniforms, these kids look like punks.

Uniforms are undeniably cute. And maybe serve a purpose. The boys like to wear them, I think because they think they look good in them. At the end of the day, I think it's nice to have that stress off the table. There's plenty enough to worry about at school, without getting into football jerseys or rock band tee-shirts.

Music is a positive experience at the Grove. Many opportunities exist for lessons in piano, violin, recorder, etc. right in school. And a regular program for music that has our kids interested in singing and playing instruments. Somehow this never happened in the States, the program there turned our kids off to music. I always thought that was weird, a music program that kids don't like. Kids seem to naturally love music.

Zach in front of a grizzly dino scene.

Among other things, students get a grade for 'hygiene'. I've got the boys brushing their teeth every morning and getting regular haircuts with simple threats about hygiene grades. Sadly I'm still very much in the "threats" school of parenting. But, guess what? They are having a workshop at the Grove to help us with that. Not sure I'll make it, but hopefully there's a synopsis in the newsletter.

The emphasis on handwriting turned me off at first but I've come around. It's helped Zach stop reversing 'b' and 'd's, 'p's and 'q's, and as a result (maybe?) his reading has improved. His reading has definitely taken off, but its hard to attribute it to any one thing. There are educational benefits to being a foreigner, not wanting to embarrass yourself in a new culture, that's sure to play a role too. OK, I'm in the "humiliation" school of parenting too. Threats and humiliation.

The obelisk marks the location where Hershel observed the southern skies.

The school grounds are spectacular. Mostly open space for playing. The school sits on the site where Hershel came to observe stars in the Southern Hemisphere. There's also a family of Egyptian geese. All the students seem to know how many goslings there are and how the goose and gander can or cannot be crossed.

Zach and class on a field trip to the museum of natural history.

Field trips, or excursions are common. It's nice to live in a big city, I'm  sure it would be similar in any big city.  

There's a newsletter filled with the issues of the day. Recently, it's been dropping students off. No stopping cars in the red zone! They had the police come and issue some 40 odd tickets. It's good to see people fired up about silly shit. Makes me think the political situation can't be all bad. Then again, there have been efforts to eliminate class C schools in South Africa. I suppose I see where that comes from, equality of educational opportunity is a core democratic value. But as it is now, the Grove goes out of its way to provide a lot of scholarships to economically disadvantaged students. I can't see that continuing if public funding stopped.

The family of Egyptian Geese have their own pool.

Finally, and I'm a little uncomfortable saying this, it's nice to be in an environment where everyone cares about education. The peer group is outstanding, and our children have moved to the middle of the pack, instead of the front. The most disruptive personalities in US classrooms are not present. They are certainly here in South Africa, no society is free of that. But I don't believe that their parents are willing to  pay that much for school, because I don't think they care enough to. Alternatively, I suppose you could say that they are victims of circumstance and can't afford to pay that much. And so why visit the sins of the father on the son? Fair enough, public education should serve the public. But in America, I don't think it is so much a matter of money, but instead of priorities, and I guess I'd like to stay clear of people with really different priorities. Bummer, that's not a healthy society.