From March 22 to April 3 the University of Johannesburg’s faculty of education took its first-year teaching students on an excursion to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park near Clarens in the Free State to assist the students in their professional development as teachers.
Two hundred and thirty students attended the five-day excursion where they engaged with the national curriculum statement and interesting teaching methods such as De Bono’s Thinking Hats and also made their educational pledges.
The teaching profession’s light in our modern society is often dim. But let us rage against the dying of the light. Lee Lacocca, an American motor industry leader, once commented: “In a completely rational society the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilisation along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest honour and highest responsibility anyone could have.” However, in our society the teaching profession does not enjoy the status it deserves. Furthermore, universities sometimes attract students who choose teaching since it is the only door open to them.
The University of Johannesburg’s faculty of education adopted a conceptual framework which states that “… we are committed to the preparation of caring, accountable and critical-reflective educational practitioners who are able to support and nurture learning and development in diverse educational contexts”. This is a very ambitious undertaking, which asks for creativity and innovation in teaching programmes. This philosophy summarises what the excursion was about.
One of our students wrote the following in his questionnaire after the excursion: “I enrolled for this qualification not because I had a passion for it but because I couldn’t find a job. My attitude was so negative. I was just doing the work to pass and get out of the university. This excursion changed my attitude. I learned that there is more to teaching than money and I will now do my best. Seeing how the professors were passionate about their job changed my attitude.”
Many students said they learned a great deal about multi-cultural teaching. Groups were mixed in most cases and students from diverse backgrounds had to form teams. Comments from students included:
“The excursion exposed us to multi-cultural education.”
“The excursion taught me about diversity and that not everything is about myself, and that I must focus on the betterment of everyone.”
For many students the trip assured them that they had made the right career choice:
“I carry a great amount of knowledge and ideas away with me today. I was uncertain of whether I had chosen the right course of study but now I am certain [after this camp] that I am meant to be a teacher.”
“The excursion made me realise how important we as teachers are, and it assisted me in my personal growth, because knowledge is power.”
“I am inspired! I was a bit sceptical with the career I chose but now realise that I have made a wonderful and good choice.”
An important outcome of the excursion is to give both staff and students the chance to get to know other people in the faculty. Several staff members commented on what hope they have for the teaching profession after witnessing the creativity and passion displayed by students.
Dr Josef de Beer is a lecturer at the University of Johannesburg’s faculty of education