Travellers
Ann Morton in Finland In keeping with the theme of education in this edition, Ann Morton, Principal of Pinelands North Primary School (PNPS) tells us about some of her travel opportunities, supported by FEDSAS, that enable local educators to investigate successful teaching methods that could be implemented in South Africa.
A love for teaching
Dynamic personality Ann Morton has been Principal of PNPS since 1997 and comments that it is unusual for a co-ed school to have a woman principal. Teaching is her first love — she says the school community is amazing, and she would not change her job for the world.
Thinking skills as a subject
The school governing body supports Ann in her quest for continual improvement in the school, looking to include her ideas gained from international travel. One such trip was to New Zealand where she found a school which concentrates on thinking skills, rather than rote learning. They model their ideas on ‘thinking gurus’ like Edward de Bono and his six “thinking hats”. The implementation of thinking skills as a subject is helpful for all students and especially for gifted students who can learn to utilise their high IQ with effective thinking skills.
Looking at education in Finland
Anne's most recent trip in April this year was to Finland with a group of 20 educators from South Africa to study the very successful Finish education system. Anne was the only Western Cape Principal to attend this event, arranged by FEDSAS, the national representative organisation for school governing bodies. The Finish government ensures that
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schooling from pre-primary to university, including vocational training is free. The education system is guided by values such as trust, respect, appreciation of learning, tolerance of individuality, fairness, a sense of community responsibility and cooperation. There is a great deal of respect for teachers and more trust between learners, teachers, parents and the community as a whole. Teaching is a sought after profession in Finland with only 10% of applicants being accepted. Kinder-garden teachers have bachelor degrees. Class and subject teachers have masters degrees. Vocational trainers have degrees with 3 years experience in the industry and are encouraged to have a business of their own to keep up with current trends in the field.
times are welcome to come to her office to collect a budgie that Ann has tamed. Ann is an animal lover, which is evident by the guppies and birds in her office and in the school foyer. She is a committee member of the Cape Province Dog Club and she enjoys dog training. As well as a love of teaching and travel, Ann enjoys reading, taking photographs and collecting and making teddy bears. Main picture: Looking across the sea in Helsinki. Inset above: the frozen lake in Jyvaskyla. Below: Ann Morton with her collection of Teddy Bears.
Children with special needs are accommodated in the regular school system as far as possible, and classes are small, with a maximum set at 25 per class. Another feature that stabilises the schooling system is the fact that the school curriculum is only changed about every 12 years and is not linked to political change.
The Principal has an open door
Ann Morton is keen to see as many of these principles and values instilled in the education system in South Africa and in her school in particular. Already children who have difficulty socialising at break
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