Back to school fever has taken over Grahamstown but in less than three months from now, it will be the first anniversary since the passing of one of the most notable persons who championed civic and educational philanthropy in Grahamstown. On 23 March it will be one year since the passing of Dr Thelma Henderson.
Back to school fever has taken over Grahamstown but in less than three months from now, it will be the first anniversary since the passing of one of the most notable persons who championed civic and educational philanthropy in Grahamstown. On 23 March it will be one year since the passing of Dr Thelma Henderson.
This anniversary provides the city with an opportunity to revitalise community philanthropy by bringing together various role-players to learn from one another and to invigorate the kind of civic engagement that will sustain Dr Henderson’s vision to provide educational opportunity to even the most marginalised youth.
In recognition of the late Dr Henderson’s championing of civic development, she was awarded one of South Africa’s most prestigious accolades when she was presented with the National Order of the Boabab in bronze by the South African government during December 2002.
In addition to this national accolade, Dr Henderson also received, during her lifetime, the Solus Medal for Meritorious Service to the Community, and the South African Teachers’ Association Centennial Award for outstanding contribution to education.
One can only wonder what the reaction of Dr Henderson would be to the 2009 matric results in Grahamstown which saw a 9.3% drop in pass rates with the bulk being attributed to township and rural schools in the surrounding areas.
Dr Henderson actively championed for improved education for black children in Grahamstown and was at the helm of establishing over 40 farm schools in Grahamstown’s surrounding areas in addition to raising millions for improving the quality of education in these schools.
The challenge to transform learning in township schools is enormous. The challenge is on all of us to take on the role of educational leadership.
This city must embark on a campaign that will be aimed at ensuring that every child in Grahamstown receives the benefits of a quality education in as much as every other person who comes to this city to benefit from the city’s sought after premiere educational institutions.
Those teachers from township schools who have the courage to shoulder the blame for failing their learners must rededicate themselves to their professions during this year.
Learners must not be afraid to name and shame those teachers who fail to serve their professions with commitment. Civic and government bureaucrats must actively support the building of a culture and learning in those township schools where such a culture has collapsed.
Government bureaucrats who are responsible for education must be uncompromising in their responsibility to bring a culture of improved learning to township schools. As citizens of the city, we all have a reason to join hands in putting the pressure on government officials to meet these challenges.
Government must dedicate significant and increased resources to poorer schools in the city while at the same time put in effective and accountable mechanisms to ensure that these resources are not plundered by greed, corruption and incompetent bureaucrats.
When this happens it will add even greater value to the work of the city’s philanthropists who work actively at building resources through their generous spirits.
Grahamstown was privileged to have the spirit of a person such as Dr Thelma Henderson. The approaching anniversary of her death provides us with the opportunity to sharpen our focus on the schooling of the city’s children.
One way to achieve this is by firmly establishing the Dr Thelma Henderson Memorial Lecture to be presented on the day of her passing so that all of us – and the educational leadership in particular – can be inspired by the values that she espoused.
There can be no better way of moving forward with such an initiative than by securing a partnership between the Grahamstown Foundation, the Upstart project, the various welfare and educational institutions in Grahamstown, the local municipality and the provincial government to take the lead in coordinating such an annual event.
Perhaps such an event could also coincide with the introduction of the Spirit of Thelma Henderson Award which can be awarded to a school principal, teacher or community philanthropist who exemplifies Dr Henderson’s passion, integrity and wisdom to advance education for marginalized children in Grahamstown.
A Thelma Henderson Student Educational Leadership Week could be a platform which allows student leaders from different schools to attend a forum at which they can be inspired in workshops presented by other high achieving students from Rhodes University.
The ideas batted around in this article cannot address all the challenges experienced by teachers and learners in Grahamstown’s low-income township schools but it will allow us to make a small difference by carrying forward Dr Henderson’s inspiring legacy. Her spirit deserves to be celebrated by all the people of Grahamstown.
As the anniversary of her passing looms in the not too distant future, we should start planning now on how we say to Grahamstown’s grand old dame, “Well done! Your spirit lives on!” Ismail Mahomed is the Director of the National Arts Festival. He writes in his personal capaci
