"Boys and Girls"

Every Tuesday and Friday the students line up and march in the auditorium for assembly. The agenda remains unchanged: scripture is read, interpreted and the student body is prayed for by one of the teachers, announcements are made, awards for athletics are announced, then Prinicipal Van Staden delivers his own personal analyses of the schools' activities, students' behavior, and miscellaneous issues.


Mr. Van Staden is usually seen at the top. In the staff room, he stands in front and leads the daily meetings at 7:45 sharp. In the auditorium, he is seen at the podium on stage with his tall stature and trying demeanor. This morning he began,"Boys and girls, you are a fool if you can sit in the hall and make noise in a crowd. Only a smart man would make noise when there is no crowd. You are cowardly because you have to hide among your peers.." and he continued to warn the students that the next time the school assembles for awards, harsher punishments will be rewarded to those uncooperative learners.


May seem harsh, but the man knows what he is saying. He is very logical in his approach towards the students and understands that "Pearson is not just a school. It is a bigger organization." Bearing that in mind, I was very shocked on Wednesday when the secretary informed me that the principal wanted to meet me as well as the other student teachers on Friday during first period. Although I had a lesson planned for that period, my concern shifted to the reason for this "meeting". Why would Mr. Van Staden want to meet with us? We must have done something wrong to make this man take out precious minutes of his life...


"I have organized this meeting today to hear from you all. Do you have questions you would like to ask me?" Mr. Van Staden outstretched his arm towards us before leaning back into his chair and surveying the seven student teachers, including me. That very moment I realized how compassionate this stern, not-to-bothered looking man was. At that very moment I began to translate the demanding words in his previous speeches. He truly does say what he means and means what he says and he does this not to harden the children but help them be more thoughtful towards their studies and dedicated in sports.


During our meeting he explained the importance of school athletics, the recent developments at Pearson High School, and the lack of technology, administration, and funding. He was and is very passionate about his perspectives. He realizes that more money and energy is put towards athletic facilities but defends South African's education and social system which approves of such efforts. He stated, "Parents look for schools like Pearson. Our athletics is very attractive in Port Elizabeth that even students who live from Summerstrand find ways to get to school... We currently have 954 students enrolled at Pearson and I am finding it very very hard to refuse learners' admission." Pearson has gone from 480 students to 950 students in the past 4 years. However, the increase in enrollment has not affected the number of teachers who already undertake the daily responsibilities of school administrators.


Afterwards, the students went to their respective classrooms and I stayed behind to thank Mr. Van Staden for taking out time from his busy schedule to meet with the student teachers. He expressed his pleasure in having student teachers at Pearson, "most especially the American students" because they "bring different perspective into the classrooms." I requested a recorded interview with him in the future which will give me the opportunity to sit down and discuss the role of administrators and teachers in a South African school such as Pearson. His point of view will be appreciated immensely.


I hope the boys and girls will also realize for themselves how much their principal cares about their education and their roles as citizens of their communities here in South Africa.