Comments on: More change agents required!

By: Shirley Kaminer

Shirley Kaminer — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:55:52 +0000

A change agent in education must first ensure that the principal and others in school management, including the parent body, are on board. This is particularly important with technology, which is expensive to acquire. A change agent needs to ensure that everyone understands why the technology is important and how it is going to be used within a school. Once everyone is on board, then an implementation process needs to be put into place, including the necessary training of teachers – not only in using technology, but also integrating it into regular classroom teaching.

By: Outjie

Outjie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:59:40 +0000

We have a new democracy-infact its not new anymore and with that comes change. Changes in all areas of life, government,social conditions, health, education etc. It is sad that change in education takes place every time a new minister takes over-Bengu, Kader Ismial, Naledi Pandor,etc and each one wants to leave a legacy of changes they brough into the system. Not all their changes work- some may work in a first world country, but in South Africa?? We first need to change the governments attitude towards education. When the budget is prepared-see where education finds itself on the list-maybe third or fourth.

The attitude of educators will only change if we are seen for what we are worth today. In the eyes of the state we are but a number and a pawn to be used as puppets on a string!When changes are to be made to the curriculum, speak to people in the field, those who are in the classrooms daily. However, its all a polotical game-depends on whose in charge!

By: Albie

Albie — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:34:07 +0000

Why must the WE ? THEY ? inspired the ME ?

Do we need someone / something / somebody / anybody / everybody or nobody to inspire me ? We know what was the outcome of this story of some + any + every + nobody !! The job was not done …. so if the job must get done, Educators must not wait for a somebody or anybody or perhaps for everybody because nobody(incuding him/herself) will not do it !! Just do it !!

I am not waiting for somebody to show me how the EIAWB function – I just do it !

Albie an e-body

By: Mark C

Mark C — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:47:48 +0000

I love the history of science and if you read the strange stories of scientist’s lives and how they discovered stuff you can see how much we are like them. The issue that you raise Kathy is quite correct. A problem that we face is with people….like myself. How does one remain inspired?

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:35:01 +0000

People have always struggled with change, especially where that change is enforced. Most of us like our comfort zones, and find change a bit threatening and scary.

With regard to technology in schools, I regularly ask myself why there seems to be so little buy-in from the teachers. Why do so many appear to be so weary, even traumatised? Perhaps there has been too much change in the teaching profession over the past decade and a half. (I understand that yet another change in the national curriculum is on the cards.)

I was reading about the Renaissance period of history, with its wonderful blossoming of the arts… and also education, after the bleak Middle Ages. What is it that inspires such greatness in Man? What brings about this kind of self-motivated change? How can we cultivate that in schools in South Africa?

Tonight I saw a movie about the life of John Keats, the poet (Bright Star – in a cinema near you). He died believing that his work was a failure. Yet he didn’t stop writing, and history holds him up as one of the great romantic poets. Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime, yet he carried on painting masterpieces, even though nobody recognised them as such during his lifetime.

Change agents need a similar refusal to give up. Somehow, we have to persuade teachers to give their all during lessons, even if they don’t see immediate results. “Education is about lighting the fire, not filling the pail.”

Still, I wonder, what is the missing ingredient? Our education system is in crisis. What is it that will inspire teachers and bring the change that we need?