SIR SAMUEL BAKER SCHOOL

The first two days of visiting the school were sport days (equivalent to CA picnic). Most kids participated barefoot—some wore running shoes that were shared between many boys. Some were wearing (and even participating in) very heavy clothing: suits, (ties and all), down-filled vests, etc. Elizabeth (my main teacher) told me that since they have to wear uniforms the other days of the week, they like to dress up in all their other clothes when they have a chance. They take the competition very seriously because the winners will compete at the district level (which takes place next Monday and Tuesday) and some could go to state and beyond. They compete by dorms (six in all), and are very motivated because the dorm that wins gets a goat to slaughter. Since meat gets on the menu only once a week, this is a really BIG deal!

Speaking of which, we came home yesterday to see two goats tied up in the yard. “How cute!” we exclaimed. Later, we were told that was to be Friday evening’s meal… While I’m on food, on the way home by bodaboda one late evening, the headlights flashed on children fishing in the puddles with their hands. The driver told me they were looking for white ants to eat--and no, they don’t cook them (I asked).

I had my first day in the classroom yesterday; I mainly observed. They were correcting compositions, and as I said before, class time consists of teacher talking up front and student listening and taking notes in seats. Only ½ the students were present for each class (about 25/60 students); most were recuperating from the sport days. I thought it was funny that the morning class was sleepy and quiet, and the last class of the day was rowdy, like at home. I guess, teenagers will be teenagers, wherever they’re from!

In a nutshell, the school system follows the British system: secondary (high) school is split into 2 levels: “O” (ordinary) level and “A” (advanced) level. “O” begins with S1 (equivalent to grade 7) and concludes with S4 (grade 10), after which they take an exam to enter the “A” level. “A” level is comprised of S5 and S6 (11& 12), another exam, and then off to university.

Also, what you study in university depends on how well you did in that subject in secondary school. When we were visiting one of the classrooms in Lubiri, one of the boys in the back of an S6 economics class called me over to sit by him. I asked him (Daniel) what he wanted to study when he went to university. He said he wanted to be a teacher of history and economics. When I asked him why he wanted to do that, he said that his highest grades were in that area—so he was slated for what they call the “HED” track (history, economics, divinity). Later someone explained that students don’t choose their emphasis, their grades in the subject area do. Makes sense, probably a lot less room for failure this way.

For now I am taking a bodaboda to the school each day; it’s about a 15-minute ride (7k). The bike will be fixed soon, so I will try to ride at least on the 3 days I come back early (the sun sets at 7 PM here). Every child on the way runs out the road to wave at me, wearing big smiles and chanting, “Mesungu! How are you? I am fine,” the only English they know. So precious!