The classroom felt more like home when I entered as I had kept a regular routine up for a 9 week span. I had started a children’s art class as that is who I got to meet in the community of Ottery. It was exam preparation time for the next boot load of matrics, bless them and I hope they get in. My focus was on not those institutionalised learners hoping to get out of there neighbourhoods and instantly become president of the United States instead my out comes were the more practical more realistic goals that a group of learner could get socially together. Matric does not mean a social group that can work together to earn money. Teamwork is better than test scores as people hold together through good and bad times.
Something needs to be worth money so the community recognises that and pays the teacher back. That did not happen this summer as the project was self funded. As an artist I did get a 5 member class together but keeping them calm that takes a gym class of effort. Once the paints have been tested you need to move them on to something else so that are fresh and happy and well mannered with each other. It is so difficult to place a economic value on social relations but they are always what gets you through in hard time as the people that stand by you don’t get paid to have the same beliefs. They make so much difference they make you feel at home.
