Update from Namibia

With great joy I great you all—oh, my goodness, I am becoming Namibian!!! They spell ‘greet’ as ‘great’. Jim & I have caught each other saying things the way they do & getting confused over spellings. But soon we will be back in the land of American English & we can get straighten out.

So, the great joy…our principal resigned this week. He is going to pursue his education on a full-time basis. Jim & I had to struggle not to show our extreme relief, happiness, excitement… Of course, the devil we don’t know could be worse than the one we know. He just didn’t do his job.

But to balance the good news, we have found out that the beatings continue. Don’t know if I ever explained, but ‘beating’ does not mean the same thing here as at home. It does not mean pummeling someone ‘til they are bloody with broken bones & near death. It is just any form of hitting, which we find just as wrong, but isn’t as bad as maybe you imagine from the term ‘beating’.

I witnessed our maintenance lady lining up 5 primary level children and methodically hitting each in the middle of the back. I was some distance away & heard the hits, so they weren’t gentle taps. I immediately reported to Principal. Shortly after that, Jim witnessed another incident, so we told all of our classes that if they are hit or punished in any physical way, they need to tell us & we will report it, not giving away their identities.

We have received a sickening number of reports. Our so-called school counselor pulled & twisted the ears of several learners, (and we are afraid she might become the temporary principal). She has a set of twin girls in Grade 5 who have reported incidents to Jim. When I told Grade 5 to report incidents to us, I was afraid of what the girls would tell their mom—apparently I didn’t need to worry!

One incident was especially disturbing: the same teacher who slapped the face of every learner in a class last year because one of them had been ‘disrespectful’, hit the ends of the fingers of about 15 learners last week with the wooden side of a chalk-board eraser. They deserved this punishment because they got 5 or less answers right on an activity that they wrote for her. It is that incident that we are afraid is going to go by the wayside due to the principal's leaving. (He resigned 3 days ago & he is leaving in 4 days). When Jim reported, the principal appeared concerned. He said that he wrote up a report on this teacher (also named ‘Sharon’) last year as her first warning & now she is back to her old tricks. We are meeting with the school Executives this weekend to make sure that this does not fall through the cracks.

At a parents’ meeting 2 weeks ago, the parent of a primary-level learner complained of the use of Corporal Punishment & the principal reiterated that the teachers have been informed, so they no longer employ that method of punishment. That is another issue with us: they only want to “punish”, not “discipline’.

Okay…so a volume later, I get to my point: please, please, pray for the people here. It isn’t just the physical punishment, it’s also the constant criticism, laughing at learners who cry, berating them—in front of others! Insulting them, embarrassing them, threatening them. It goes on & on. Some realize that it is wrong, but “that’s just the way we are, it’s what we do.” And never a kind word, or encouragement, or praise. Or if praise is given to one, the others are berated for not being like this one.

My heart is heavy today. The one thing that we thought was won for the learners…wasn’t. It was going on behind our backs & is just now coming out in the open. It is definitely time to leave. It is becoming unbearable. The learners are turning to us for help in so many ways & we have no way to help them. We can give them food, money, school supplies, a kind word, an open ear, but we cannot fix their problems. We are becoming impatient, resentful, powerless. We aren't looking for results to feel good, we just want these kids to be treated as they deserve. More than ever, we are begging for prayers—not for us, but for the teachers, learners & new principal.

Our love to all of you.

sharon

P.S.

I remember what it was…I had run into a website that included some musings of one of our WorldTeach colleagues. In comments made in response to her, someone from the States was surprised that Alana was so upset by the corporal punishment here, that it is common in the Southern states. I couldn’t believe it. Did some surfing and found out that, if I remember correctly, 17 of our states do not ban corporal punishment and it is alive & well in those states. Of the states that ban it, most have only been in the last 30 years. And I have been telling our colleagues here that ‘oh no, corporal punishment has not been used in the States for at least 50 years.’ I found horror stories of ’legal’ punishment in our country--so much for self-righteous indignation.
sharon

Ramblings from Namibia

Greetings! I hope everyone’s summer is beginning well. Our winter is proving itself very enjoyable.
The nights get down to mid-40’s & days heat up to low 80’s. Our concrete-block walls absorb the day’s heat & keep it very pleasant throughout the night. Rarely do we even need a fan during the day. Everyone else here is freezing, wearing jerseys & heavy coats in class. And gloves! They share them, so most wear one on the hand that they don’t use to write. They don’t realize it, but they are missing out on a great excuse for not getting their written work done!

For whatever reason, God stays very close by--could it be your prayers??? I find myself reflecting on our time here and getting frustrated with not having the impact that I know we could have, if the teachers would just change!!! So, one day last week, Olivia (with whom I have had a distant relationship due to her obnoxious classroom behaviour) asked if she could talk to me. I figured it was going to be “Miss, why do you hate me?”, and I was flabbergasted when she started out with “my dad beats my mom”. How, in heavens name do you respond to something like that? After many tears and expressed hopes for a harmonious (yes, she used that word!) family life, I asked her what I could do. “Please, just listen to me and advise me.” Okay, God, I get it, you are still using us. Since then, 2 more have asked to talk ‘in private” and another very unlikely candidate asked Jim if she could talk to him ‘sometime’.

I had a disappointment last week, also. Some LRC’s (Learner Representative Council) asked me to draft a letter to teachers asking permission to hold a meeting with all Grade 5-10 learners to gather input for making some changes. I was so excited to see some initiative! They got permission, although the meeting has not yet taken place because the Head of Department dismissed the school early the day of the meeting. Anyway, I got the ‘brilliant’ idea to guide this group to form a council similar to the student councils that we have at home. I offered to become their sponsor teacher (their previous sponsors quit over some money issue--a very long story). Then, the principal came up with guidelines for the “Guardian Teacher” for the LRC’s & I quickly withdrew my offer. The expectations for that group do not have room for anything that vaguely resembles representation of the learners. As Guardian, I would be expected to make sure that all the LRC’s keep their shirts tucked in, wear school-appropriate hairstyles, and generally exemplify model learners in order to monitor their fellow-learners’ appearance & behaviour. No, thank you.

We had a wonderful time with Maureen, Dane & Bobby. Dane loved school, & learners have been asking when he will be back. Maureen ‘taught’ one of Jim’s classes while he went to the dentist. She now understands our love for these children. Bobby talked with Grade 8 & 7, sat in a Grade 9 English class, and he saw the other side. Did not want to attend any more classes. Laughing at people is acceptable here. Knowing that it’s “the culture” doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. I had some very serious talks with those grades. Everyone already knew my stand on that issue. They had been punished numerous times for laughing at fellow-learners, so it is at times like that when I get discouraged.

During our travels to meet our family, we entered an area that was new to us. It was refreshing to see the differences between our area & that strip of land that jets over to Zimbabwe & Zambia. The rural areas look more “African” with almost exclusively round mud/stick homes with thatched roofs arranged into family settlements. The area looked cleaner, and there were FAR fewer ‘shebeens’--non-licensed bars. The rest of Namibia laughs at the Caprivi Strip, they are considered to be uneducated & poor, but it looked inviting to me. We visited the Himba’s again. Each time we see another facet of their lives. This family of about 50-60 had a very large herd of cattle & goats. We arrived as the animals were being brought back to the homestead for the night. The baby goats were kept in a very small & crowded kraal during the day, then as goats came home, three children were in the kraal & handed the babies out to others who very often tossed them to the ground for the baby to find its mother. After feeding, the babies were herded back into their kraal. They are kept separate so the babies don’t keep feeding--the people need the goats’ milk for themselves.

We took them to an open market where Maureen had her cel phone stolen. Our fault, we failed to warn her. She took a picture of a fruit stand & a guy demanded $$ for her taking the picture. She refused because she didn’t take picture of him…her phone was in a mesh pocket of her purse the last time she saw it. When she called it, he answered, but of course hung up as soon as he realized that it must be that rich American…whose phone he swiped!! Still, we have been so lucky. I believe, partly, because Jim is known throughout our town & he is quite the Ambassador!! He wears an ugly bright yellow & blue ‘Quicksilver” hat that makes him distinguishable…and he looks considerably different from most of our neighbours.

I am getting a Spelling Bee organized. Making some changes from last year & have quite a few new learners signing up. Hoping for more teacher support, but I’m okay without it. I know that if we are not replaced with a volunteer next year, this will be the last. This activity is not required by the syllabus, so there is no need to have it.

As soon as I send this off to you, I will remember what I really wanted to tell you, but right now, of course, I can’t.

Keep those prayers coming--the Lord is listening to them. We can handle anything if we know that He is with us.

With love & prayers for you,
sharon