Ms. Wilkinson took us to Hector Pieterson Museum. There were more students in neat school uniforms. She then took us to Regina Mundi Church. Thabile and Nqobile counted more than thirty bullet holes in the walls and ceilings inside the church. They were from the police that were sent to have control over the uprising of the university students who ran into the church. The violent time was shortly after the uprising of high school students on June 16, 1976. During the tour Ms. Wilkinson quietly told her students the historical background of Soweto Uprising and the significance of education in South Africa. The following is what I learned from her.
Before the territorial ambitions of European powers, native people of South Africa were mostly farmers on their ancestral land. They followed their tradition in their extended family and community and practiced their native religion of ancestral worship. When native people lost their land in 1832, they lost everything: their community, tradition and human dignity. They were forced to move in segregation yo serve white people as laborers. When gold was found in 1886 Soweto was where black people had to move into as laborers in the mines. The area used be a wetland with rich lives. It was turned into miles of dry land with no life. Immigrants made temporary housing and worked in the mines. The name Soweto is not a geographical or native name but it came from the first two letters of the three words, South Western Township, S0-we-to.
The 1953 Education Act forced al black children to be educated in Africaan (considered to be one of the many native languages) for the first four years and then from the fifth year, they were given choices between English and Africaans. However, the system had four segregated layers, which did not give black students freedom of language choice to learn and chances to succeed. In the Parliament, Hendrik Vermoerd introduced a new school system in the north for both white and black students to study, which was called 'Model C Schools', only to fail black students academically. Those schools were originally for white students and the language of instruction was English. They welcomed black students up to 20 % of the student body, but no black student survived or succeeded, as it was cleverly planned. Not because they were not capable of it but because the language and the system were so difficult for them to achieve. Failure in education meant failure in the job market. More young people were left on the streets with no jobs. The new education policies produced more sadness and anger among the native black people.
Bantu Steve Biko was a native political activist and a fine educator who taught students self-worth in those difficult times. He was convinced that black African students should have the right to be educated in any language of their choice so that they could achieve better in school. Young black teachers were inspired by him and formed an organization called SASO and tried to fight for no choice. In 953 Bantu Education was founded by young black teachers in Soweto. In 1968 the South African Student Movement, SASM, was founded. Young teachers worked under pressure for years. This is exactly when the Soweto Uprising occurred on June 16, 1976. After Biko's arrest and death in the prison in September 1977, SASM ceased the activity in October 1977. According to the report, 575 people died in the end, followed by Hector Pieterson.
These are exactly the reasons why black students in South Africa took pride in their school uniform and showed appreciation in educational opportunities. They do not take education for granted. Children need rots and wings to grow. They are certainly working towards their purpose in education. The DNA testing result made me feel that I am small, but I am a world. As Lord Alfred Tennyson said, "I am a part of all that I met". What happens in the world is my concern and my joy. I will keep my eyes and ears open to understand the world around me. I will try to reach out when I can. Although small, I will try in my way. My stay in South Africa was a new learning experience for me and I was more than willing to share it with my students back in Tokyo.
I am happy that South Africa is hosting the World Cup in 2010. South Africa has come a long way but will certainly continue with their roots and wings. There was a poster at school that said, "Children need roots and wings to grow". The Soccer City Stadium where the World Cut final game will take place is in Orlando, not far from Soweto. I hope that my report will become an interest to students in Tokyo, who watch the World Cup 2010. At the same time I hope there are students in South Africa who remember a Japanese teacher in kimono and her talk about Japan as well as the Japanese soccer team and the way they showed their team spirit and never gave up. Africa and Japan are far from each other but actually related.
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