South African Children Push for Better Schools
October 15, 2009
The article, “South African Children Push for Better Schools,” begins by describing a march by thousands of South African children demanding libraries and librarians. The article continues to describe other efforts of South African students to improve the quality of their education. While this story is situated in a particular social and historical context (and would be especially relevant to any classrooms studying the legacy of apartheid in South Africa), it also raises important universal questions about civic participation, education, inequality and the role of youth in society.
Discussion Questions:
- Abongile Ndesi, a ninth grader, participated in the march to Capetown City Hall because she wants a library in her school, explaining, “We want more information and knowledge.” Why might students like Abongile care so much about having good libraries in their schools? What are the consequences of not having access to information? What is the relationship between knowledge and power?
- Dozens of white students from well-resourced schools (with excellent libraries) joined the march to help mostly black students attending under-resourced schools get access to better libraries. Why might these white students be motivated to participate in the march? How does the history of apartheid in South Africa shape your understanding of this fact? Given the history of apartheid in South Africa, do you think white students have a responsibility to take part in efforts aimed at improving the quality of education for all South African students? Why or why not?
- The students in this article protested in order to fix classroom windows, improve school libraries and hire a new science teacher. Under what circumstances, if any, would you be motivated to take action to improve your education? Under what circumstances, if any, would you be motivated to take action to improve the education of students in your district? Under what circumstances, if any, would you be motivated to take action to improve the education of students in your country? Under what circumstances, if any, would you be motivated to take action to improve the education of students in another country, such as South Africa?
- Zackie Achmat, a longtime activist for equality, said, “In building a citizens’ movement, the most important element is giving people the sense of their own power to change things with little victories.” How do you see his idea reflected in this story? How do you see this idea reflected in histories you have studied? What does this statement suggest about how to organize a “citizens’ movement”?
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