LOCAL
The Southern Cross, December 1 to December 7, 2010
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Catholic education ‘a precious gift’ Healthcare in the spotlight By ClaiRE MaThiESon
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HE importance of Catholic education was highlighted at Cape Town’s Springfield Convent School in a speech delivered by a former pupil at the annual prize-giving ceremony. Architect, lecturer and past Fullbright Scholar Claire Abrahamse addressed the school for girls about being holders of a very “precious and empowering prize”: the gift of a Catholic education. Ms Abrahamse said the true value of her Catholic education was revealed only later, during her almost eleven years of tertiary studies. “I can look back and recognise that my Springfield education has created a vast array of opportunities for me through the self-discipline, values and the worldview that were imparted to me during my 12 years here.” The former Springfield Convent pupil said one of the most important lessons imparted to her through her Catholic education was that of attitude. It is this attitude that she attributes to being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States between 2007 and 2009. “For me there was only one option: to study architecture and urbanism at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston—rated the top technical University and overall fifth ranked in the world by World University Rankings 2010. According to Ms Abrahamse, 44% of the MIT student body is made up of foreign students,
exposing her to viewpoints and approaches of young architects from six continents. “I was absolutely delighted that all of us, from such diverse cultures, religions and corners of the globe, had a common and developing understanding of good design and the key global and social issues it could address,” she said. She noted that many of her peers had, at some stage, received a Catholic education. “No matter their cultural or religious backgrounds, friends from sub-continental Asia and Europe had often attended Catholic Schools, while North and particularly South Americans had often attended Catholic universities for their undergraduate studies.” Ms Abrahamse said this observation was shared by many including her academic advisor who, after teaching at MIT for some 35 years had come to believe that Catholics were without doubt doing something right when it came to education. After doing some research, Ms Abrahamse found a vast body of work documenting Catholic schools as being “streets ahead when it comes to educating urban children and young adults, and have been for many decades”. The research gave reasons for this success: Catholic schools stick to a content-rich core curriculum that isn’t easily swayed by untested trends in education; that Catholic schools place emphasis on character as well as academics; and that Catholic schools build social capital
through creating strong ties to parents, parishioners and their neighbourhoods. “While I agree with these points, none really resonated with my own feelings about Catholic education, and so I had to go back and reflect on my experiences,” said Ms Abrahamse. She found her Catholic education had more than equipped her for the challenges of tertiary education and “the real world”. In addition, there was a sense of confidence present in all former Springfield girls “I believe that this ability to thrive in new environments, take on responsibilities and assume leadership positions so soon after leaving school is directly related to the examples of commitment we received from our teachers and the Springfield Sisters. “Springfield pupils have, for 139 years, been the privileged benefactors of the tremendous sacrifices of women and men who have shaped their lives according to what they believe. And one of their key beliefs has always been the value of educating women,” she said. Ms Abrahamse said the education she received delivered consistent values, surrounded her with people who live virtues, developed self-discipline and provided rigorous academic training. “It has taught us to respect the dignity of all people, to have compassionate concern for those who lack basic human needs, and to reach out to the global as well as the local community.”
By ClaiRE MaThiESon
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S part of its Caring Schools Programme, the Catholic Institution of Education (CIE) has been dedicated to pastoral care in some of the country’s poorest schools. The programme has seen 2 000 learners in 30 rural areas receive health screening. According to the CIE website (www.cie.org.za), pastoral care is “the caring response of people within the school community for each other”. Vivien Byrne of the CIE Development Office said the initiative came after 18 schools in South Africa’s poorest areas were surveyed in 2009 to assess the extent and efficacy of healthcare available to them. “All of the schools surveyed indicated that available services were far from adequate and that they would benefit significantly from supplementary health screening.” The programme was developed by the Pastoral Care team at the CIE in collaboration with the national and provincial Departments of Health, the University of the Witwatersrand and the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Basic Education. The process involved an eye and ear test, a general visual examination and checking learners for deficiencies. An average of 75 children was screened each day by volunteer professional nurses, assisted by CIE staff. According to Ms Byrne, the screen-
ings not only assisted by picking up primary healthcare problems for individual learners, but also “allowed a number of broader issues to be identified at schools regarding matters of ethos and resource utilisation”. Other factors seen as problematic included the state of the environment, hygiene, signs of neglect, poor conditions in hospitals and the distances some children had to walk to get to school. “A major concern for the Department of Health was the need for follow-up screenings with the necessary treatment, care and support that the vulnerable learner requires.” Ms Byrne said the CIE has undertaken to remain in contact with schools that have undergone screening. “The first phase of the programme has been exciting and very well received. The CIE is negotiating with the Department of Education’s Health Promotion Unit to extend this type of work to more schools throughout South Africa in the near future.” The CIE believes that all Catholic schools should have a Pastoral Care Committee as it “integrates the academic, social and religious dimensions of the school curriculum to promote the development of the whole person”. Ms Byrne said the unit and regional managers are following up with schools to ensure that the children referred to clinics have received treatment.
FOR THE RECORD: In our feature article, “Willing to get involved in the messiness of life” (November 24), we incorrectly stated that St Joseph’s Care and Support Trust at Sizanani Village has 10 258 patients in its Aids care. The correct figure is 3 787. The trust was founded in 1999 by Elisabeth Schilling and is situated at Sizanani Village, which was established by Fr Karl Kuppelwieser. We regret the error.
HOLY SITES TRAVEL HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE with Fr Joseph Wilson SEPTEMBER 2011 Organised by Kevin & Debbie Contact: Elna Ferreira on 082 975 0034, E-Mail: elna@holysites.co.za, Website: www.holysites.co.za
Br Mothusi Boatile oMi was ordained a priest this month by Bishop Valentine Seane of Gaborone at St Peter’s Catholic church’s Gabane. Fr Boatile is the first oblate from Botswana since the oblates from lesotho arrived in the country in 1992. Fr completed his studies in philosophy and theology in lesotho and has a master’s degree in the Sesotho language.
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“I have been greatly entertained reading Warriors of Our Age and have enjoyed every twist and turn in the plot. The author has a wonderful ability to tell a story, setting the scenes well, so that the reader can picture the unfolding of the plot. I enjoyed the intrigue and “James Bond' element of the story. It is a thoroughly enjoyable story written with superb style.” Catherine Laing, South Africa Publisher: Raider Publishing International (June 2010) Paperback 584 pages ISBN-10:1616670835. Available from The Catholic Bookshop, Cape Town (021 465 5904) amazon.com oneshop.co.za whsmith.co.uk foyles.co.uk