August 6, 2016 Daily Schedules and Student Discipline

August 6, 2016 -While time periods are set for teaching the different subjects at CFIE, this does not appear to be the case at Emifini.  Often when our group arrives, students are already in the classroom but the teachers are not.  Frequently, they are in the “teacher lounge/conference room” discussing a school policy or other important matter before they begin their day.  Since the discussion is held in isiXhosa, I do not know what issues are being discussed but at times the debates seem somewhat heated.  The discussions seem to be mainly between the teachers with little or no input from their principal.  Teachers do not seem to be in a rush to get to their classes after their meeting ends and have no worries as to what the students may be doing in their absence.  This is very different at CFIES, as students are never left unattended for any reason and the expectation is that a responsible adult is ever present and in charge.  All students receive a lunch that is cooked by township mothers.  This is received by the students in their classrooms, in a red bowl.  Students must provide their own eating utensil.  The meals appear to contain some type of meat, a starch (usually mealy) and sometimes vegetables, all mixed together in a “one pot” meal.  After eating, they are dismissed for recess time where they hurry outside to play without any adult supervision.  I have witnessed some very rough play outside the windows, but have never witnessed a student cry, complain or “tattle” on his peer during these interactions.  While observing students at recess, I remembered that as a young student in the 60’s, we were left to play and entertain ourselves on the playground with little adult interference.  This is so different today, as school safety and anti-bullying have become the hallmark of our public schools and both students and parents often complain over even the most trivial incidents.  Students must be sent to a school nurse if they fall and scrape their knee so they can be “medically attended to” to ward off parent complaint.    While real bullying should not be accepted it in a school, I believe that many students confuse a one-time minor incident as being bullied.  This makes me wonder if we are denying students the opportunity to learn how to engage in peer negotiations and learn the art of community problem solving.  After recess, the students return for afternoon instruction.  Unfortunately, due to many early release days and school holidays, I have only been witness to the afternoon instruction once.  At the end of the school day, students clean their own classrooms, and I have observed a group of boys climbing on the outdoor window ledges to wash the classroom windows.  Fridays are always a “half-day” for students.  After having reading and English class (no math) and lunch, they clean the classroom and are dismissed.