This morning…

Apart from lectures resuming today – after a one week student strike and
various other disruptions – I headed out to West Taraka early in the
morning for a meeting with the parents of students from the Duna
Elementary School. Teachers, students and School Board members for also
present at the meeting.
This is the 2nd time that I have addressed the Parents and Teachers
group and this morning I would have spoken with them for approximately
30mins. There is an unfinished classroom that has just been standing
there… unusable for the past six months or so.
How did this come about…
I was getting tired of walking into West Taraka, each time seeing the
unfinished classroom and walking passed groups of people playing cards.
Initially, I approached the chairperson and asked if it was possible
for me to address the school board – this happened 3 weeks ago. The idea
of a parents and teachers meeting was borne out of this initial meeting
with the board members. A 2nd meeting with the parents has now taken
place and I think we might be getting somewhere.
I suggested to the group that the end of this year to be a reasonable
target date to get the classroom finished. In time for the start of the
teaching year in early 2007. In this situation I don't particularly want
to get my hands dirty or even spend a lot of time doing the required
physical work on the classroom project. I am however, happy to get
involved at a “guidance” or “advisory” level. The talk I gave this
morning was aimed at motivating board members and also parents to get
“cracking” – after all it is a Community School!!
Lets see whats happens…