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The
First Idea: In November 2006 the immediate thought of
the Anglican Board of Education was to identify the lost parish
schools and to see what could be done to reclaim them. It
seemed the right time to take action. There was an educational
crisis in the land. It seemed that in many schools what was
lacking was the sense of purpose and discipline that had characterised
the parish schools. The ABE would be able to touch only a
few schools but to make contact with the few would be important.
In the meantime the Department of Education had its hands
full as it sought to reshape and vitalise the system that
it had inherited as a whole and should not be averse, as the
apartheid government had been, to the practice of parish schools.
However when a survey was carried out it showed that it was
too late . The buildings were lost or changed, while the communities,
which the schools had served, were scattered far and wide.
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The
Second Idea: The Board put its mind to identifying new
communities with a mind to working with the Anglican parishes
there and starting from scratch small, independent, primary
, parish schools. |
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The
Concept: These schools would not challenge the state schools,
though they would take some of the pressure off them – rather
they would serve as pace setters with recourse to the inspiration
and discipline of the Church. The National Curriculum would
form the basis of instruction though there would be a underlying
component of Christian worship. This, however, would not embarrass
those of different faiths. Classes would be small and standards
high. Each new school would fall under the authority of a
School Council composed of people from the parish community
and the Anglican Board of Education. All would be learning
their roles as eagerly as the learners in the classrooms.
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The
Cost |
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of
buying the land on behalf of the parish and the diocese where
it would be located, |
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of
erecting the buildings and |
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of
maintaining the school through its initial year, |
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would
fall to the Anglican Board of Education, but, thereafter the
running costs would be covered by |
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a
state subsidy, |
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school
fees and, |
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if necessary, a supplement from the Anglican Board of Education.
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A
lot of discussion took place over the extent of the school
fees. If was agreed, however, that by paying something people
would identify with the school and thereby make a statement
as to the value which they placed on education. Nevertheless
the schools would have to travel light.
Despite this, there was no hesitation amongst teachers in
promising a commitment to high standards. |
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Development
Two communities were identified : |
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The
Parish of St Matthews, Delft, in the Diocese of False Bay |
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The
Chapelry of St Simon’s, Kranshoek, part of the Parish of St
Peter’s, Plettenberg Bay, in the Diocese of George. |
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Two
other parishes with similar, if not identical, visions need
to be noted: |
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Before
the advent of the ABE. the Parish of St Michaels , in Khayalitsha,
in the Diocese |
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of
False Bay, had started its independent parish school, whose
initiative and companionship
has been an inspiration to the ABE. |
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Subsequent
to the identification of the St Matthew’s and St Simon’s communities,
contact was |
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made
with another parish, also a St Simon’s, on the outskirts of
Oudtshoorn, in the Diocese of George. Here the congregation
is in the process of establishing a Music and Performing Arts
School on the property alongside the church. This will not
be one of the parish schools, as defined by the ABE, although
it supports its vision in all respects. The ensuing companionship
between the ABE and the St Simon’s parish Oudtshoorn will
nevertheless be important and may well grow into a stronger
relationship. |
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