Success?

"The recess detentions give us a better alternative to corporal punishment, and they are an even more effective punishment than using the cane. I have also given in to frustration and used a stick on the children but it is wrong and now is the time for all of us to say no to corporal punishment."

Those were the words I'd been waiting to hear, spoken by the school principal at last night's teachers' meeting. Although it will take a lot for the words to be followed up with actions (plus the meeting wasn't very well attended), it was a great momet for me, the culmination of my work on the classroom management workshop and recess detentions, and my conversations with the principal. In an ideal world I would know that the words would be followed up with real sanctions for teachers who go against the policy, and that there would be a real effort to stamp out corporal punishment; but the sentiment is there and realistically this was the best that could have happened.

Schol closes for Christmas this week, and my work there is definitely not done. There are some things I've introduced and helped to implement - the detentions, seating plans, teachers observing each other, and subject department meetings - that the teachers are generally keen about but that haven't had time to take root yet and the teachers are unlikely to take the initiative independently to carry them on. But the principal is keen, as are the other volunteers, so the baton will be passed onto them. A bit wierd for me as I like to see these things through and make sure they're done properly (bit of a control freak).

On a different topic, something that is really impressing me about the camp is the community spirit and the amount of effort the Liberian refugees put into helping each other. I've had a number of people talk to me about projects they've set up. For example, the guy working behind the counter of this internet cafe noticed that most schools are open only in the mornings so has set up a free afternoon school which he teaches at voluntarily. Also, one of the teachers, who I didn't trust very much as he's been a bit sneaky and pushy before with trying to get money out of people, told me about a project he and another refugee have set up. They are giving basic literacy and vocational education to 27 girls aged 12-20, who have dropped out of school and become prostitutes on the camp. Totally changed my opinion of him! Both have asked for help (even if not financial), and I'm going to use some of my spare time after schoool closes, to go and see the projects.