My counterpart and I gave grade 5 the composition part of their test. We selected a picture from a book with an African boy sitting under a tree, looking at the contents of a shoe box. The scenery depicts life in rural Lesotho with typical Basotho rondavels, chickens pecking at bits of corn and other kids playing in a Continue Reading
Lineo is one of the Vulnerable Children at My School
Lineo and Sonia On the first day back to school, after a public holiday, Sister B. decides to send the vulnerable children home to collect money for a field trip to Katse Dam next month. Many students have a one and a half hour trek over the mountains to school, and now she orders them to go back home and collect the money. They’ve Continue Reading
Children Debate Major Cultural Differences-Gutsy Living
As a Peace Corps volunteer teacher in Lesotho, I'm discovering major cultural differences, even in the classroom. What may seem, "normal" in a school in Lesotho, would be cause for jail, in the U.S. I'm helping grade 7 prepare a debate on, “Are teachers to be blamed for the poor performance of students?” While brainstorming points on the Continue Reading
The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Are Grateful
When I started teaching English at my rural school in Lesotho, southern Africa, I was shocked by the state of the children’s clothing and shoes. Many had holes in their sweaters, wore shoes with their toes poking out, and some children could not afford socks or underwear. 60% of the children in my school are either orphans or Continue Reading
Moshoeshoe Day Celebrations: A Big Event in Lesotho
March 11th, was Moshoeshoe Day, pronounced (Moshway-shway) in Lesotho. What is it? It’s the day the Basotho commemorate the death of the country’s founder. All schools, including my small, Catholic school start preparing for this day, when school opens on January 25th, after the summer holidays—yes, we’re in the southern hemisphere here in Continue Reading
