A Day as LEAP School of Math and Science

Today we spent the day at the the LEAP School for Math and Science. This school is not a typical Cape Town school because students are selected to come here from less advantaged areas. The name refers to the leap that they want the students to make from Township Schools to a better education system. There is an emphasis not only on academics but also on improving their lives through what they call "discussions" (more on that later) and community service. Our Pomfret students were paired with a student in the Hosting Club, a similar group to our Key Club. We had a brief introduction to the school and to each host in a courtyard on the morning school break. The pairs had time to get acquainted while Oscar, the teacher leader of the Hosting Club, told us about his job as a general studies teacher. He described his role as the teacher who helps to fill the holes in the bottom of the bucket so that the learning will not leak out. He tries to teach basic study skills such as computer skills, geography, and other basic knowledge that we take for granted. After our time chatting with the host students, they lead us through a tour of the school. On the tour we introduced ourselves to several classes of students, including math, chemistry, physical science and Oscar's general studies class. One class sang a welcome song for us, complete with clapping and dancing. One of the students explained to me that South Africans sing this song to tell visitors that they are welcome and they like you. And she assured me that they like us here. At the end of the tour our students went to class with their host for the rest of the morning. I had some time to sit in the lobby area and observe the goings-on of the school. The principal of the school stopped to introduce himself. He said that he would find work for us instead of sitting on the couch for the morning. Oscar joined us after class to tell us more about his work with the students. During the first half of the 9th grade he has his students complete a self-study project. He asks the students to research their family origins and tell the story of their family history. He gave me a crash course in the migration of culture and languages in Africa. One of the goals of this project, and the education at Leap, is to prepare these students to be community leaders. Oscar believes that an understanding of the cultures and histories of their fellow students is vital to equip these children for the challenges of living in this culturally diverse and politically complicated country. A few minutes after our discussion with Oscar, the girls soccer team came by suited up for a game. They processed through the office singing and clapping. I enjoyed watching them sing and warm up in the courtyard just outside the office. No matter the outcome of the game, it looks like they are all going to have fun. After a casual picnic lunch with our student hosts, we meet for a discussion with them. The discussion is an important part of the Leap experience where the kids learn how to discuss their feelings and engage in conflict resolution. We sat in a circle in a classroom. One of the students led us in some deep breathing exercises to help us all get settled and centered for the discussion. He asked us to think about what we wanted to discuss about their day in the circle as we took long breaths in and out. Another student acted as the facilitator of our discussion. She asked us all to share our thoughts and feelings from the morning together. The Leap students opened up about their time with us and our Pomfret students shared some of their observations from the day. It was wonderful to hear both sides of the story. The next topic for discussion was their community service work that we will participate in on Monday. The facilitator explained to us that they are required to do community responsibility work in their own communities. They have to go back to their neighborhoods and find out how they can contribute. Once they have uncovered a need that they can address, the students make a plan to work on their project. The connection back to the community is an important part of their experience because these young people have been selected to go outside own their Township school to gain a better education. One of the students put it this way, "We must always remember where we come from. If we forget where we come from then we will not be able to get anywhere in the future." I was humbled by the wisdom of her statement. The students headed off for another round of classes after the discussion. Then they will do sports with the seniors. I took this opportunity to visit an internet cafe while the students are in the capable hands of their student hosts. After school today will head out to meet our home stay Mamas.