Herbert Hurd Primary School

Yesterday was my first Friday in SA and also my first day (unofficially) at Herbert Hurd Primary School (grades 1-7). It is a very neat school. Let me show you what I'm talking about...

 This is the entrance to our classroom. There are hallways into other parts of the building, but this is mostly the way that the 1st grade class I am in gets to and from everything... they walk outside. YES! The school grounds (a very large and complex building) are completely fenced in with high security fences and gates. This is technically outside, but not outside of the grounds. The door is open all day. It is fantastic.

This is a side view of the classroom. The students line up every morning and after "break" (recess/lunch) on the patio near the building. The green that you see is part of the playground. There are other classrooms in this outside "hall" -- all 1st grade classes. There are 5 first grade classes in all at HH with between 15-27ish students in all. The largest class that my cooperating teacher has had in 1st grade is 39 students. Can you imagine? She told me that the township schools have had up to 63 students in one class... with one teacher.

These two views (above and below) are what you would see looking out from our classroom entrance. There is a play area, a shade hut, and some pretty nice tennis courts... because every child here is involved in "sport." The students have between 20-30 minutes for "break" when they play and eat at the same time. There are no monitors that I am aware of... or duties. Nicole, you would be so happy here... :)

There are some immaculate indoor swimming pools too (will post pics later). The students have phys-ed as a part of their regular classroom instruction-- which could, I guess, be categorized as a duty (sorry Nicole, maybe not). I'm not sure of the schedule, but most days students are on school grounds until 2-3ish  participating in "sport"-- which is mandatory (classroom instruction for 1st grade is over at 1). From what I have learned so far "sport"  includes: cricket, tennis, swimming, and football (soccer). I'm sure there are others but I will have to look into is.

 This is Mrs. Coomb-Davis' first grade classroom-- where I will be teaching for the next three weeks. There are 27 students in her class. As you can see it is very similar to a classroom in the Tusc/Stark area: tables & chairs (old ones!), a sink, chalk/white boards, charts, etc. There are many familiar "teachery" things here. The room is very spacious and has a sort of Robinson-Curuso feel to it... it must be a mixture of the hardwood floors, wooden furniture, wide-open space and sea breeze.

This is her magnetic weather/calendar chart. Everything is very similar. I don't know what I was expecting.


The most interesting thing that I have learned about the education system here is that all students must apply to both primary and high school-- kind of like a college application. And before they are accepted, they are interviewed by the teachers and administration. Students and families are recommended to apply to several schools because oftentimes they do not get into the school that they prefer. Herbert Hurd had 300+ applicants for this school year and could only take 150-some-odd students. Schools like Herbert Hurd are very much preferred in this area.

According to my cooperating teacher, schools here do no receive very much government funding which means that the students pay high fees to go to school. Because of this students' families also have to pay out of pocket for interventions such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, etc. This means that oftentimes students (especially those from low-income families) don't get the help that they need. On a brighter side, however, teachers do after school interventions for free-- which is nice for those kids that just don't "get it" or need a little extra guidance.

According to my co-op teacher, SA, more specifically the Eastern Cape, has the same issues with school policies getting handed down from people in the education dept. that have never taught school. Different country, different latitude, different hemisphere... same problems.


The school building is amazing. The students are ornery (as they are at Park! :) ) and the art is pretty cookie-cutter. Students pack or buy their lunches, they have meetings at carpet, and the teachers eat in a lounge. There are similarities and differences, but for the most part, things are very much the same. This is just what I have learned so far from conversations and observations.


Peace!

Sarah (4:05pm)