A Fond Farewell

GK Chesterton, the English philosopher and writer said, “Education is simply the soul of society as it passes from one generation to another.” It is a statement on which I’ve reflected often over my decades as an educator.

It was on my mother’s lap that I learned of this special school at the foot of Table Mountain. St Cyprian’s School was a haven for her during World War 2, when my widowed grandmother arrived in Cape Town needing comfort and strength beyond what schools usually provide. My mother’s stories of secret passageways and ghosts in the boarding house thrilled me. I sensed her pride in her announcement to the family that she played for the first hockey team. She misbehaved in Chapel and there was no discussion of a matric dance during the war years.

After her death I discovered a book prize awarded to her for her essay “How to recognize a good man and marry him”. I blanched! The feminist in me revolted. I questioned the relevance of what was being taught and then I remembered Chesterton’s words that education was simply the soul of society as it passed from generation to generation. Time, context, and place. As a child and young woman, I benefitted from the values taught by the school to my mum at that time - a recognition of resilience, integrity, compassion, and accountability that resulted in a 59 year-long, idyllic marriage that in turn gifted me stability and strength to encounter the “soul of society” in the twenty first century.

The establishment of St Cyprian’s over 150 years ago was borne out of the recognition of the power that education has to influence society, a recognition that it was not available to all in need of it, and significantly for me, a recognition of the vital role women perform in moulding the lives of those around them. The context in 1871 was the lack of schooling for Anglican clergy’s daughters in Cape Town. Evidence suggests that it was at the insistence of Bishop Grey’s wife, Sophie - a strong, talented, visionary, and adventurous woman, that her husband actioned the opening of the school. Had women been allowed to hold the position of bishop then, I have no doubt that a string of girls’ schools would have been opened under her supervision!

Mine has been but seven years of service in over a century and a half of history. When I arrived at St Cyprian’s School, various building projects were still in their infancy. The Sport Centre was a dream - the focus being primarily on developing the Preparatory campus. Robotics and coding did not exist in educational institutions, and digital literacy was neither conceived as a subject nor considered an essential part of the curriculum. A bank of iPads was a novelty reserved for the senior girls and ironically, testament to our innovative teaching at the time! Examinations remained formal at Intermediate Phase level and few emails passed between parent and teacher. Round Square, although firmly entrenched in the High School, was a philosophy front and centre in Preparatory School thinking, but not overtly realized in our teaching. The work produced by the girls was undeniably good and solid, the teachers dedicated, and our pride and commitment to our Anglican values strong. It could have remained static and still those firm foundations would have been well-entrenched. However, that is not the way we progress and thrive!

The description above highlights the rapid progression, innovation and change that challenges us to ensure schools remain current, relevant, and reflective of the “soul of society”. Over my thirty years in the profession, these past seven years have seen the greatest shift. Our entire approach to classroom teaching has moved from teacher to student-driven learning. The internet equips our girls to source current information and engage, under supervision, with other students internationally on their personal devices. Character building and ethical living are paramount and perhaps most importantly, our girls have found the power of their collective voices. The true meaning of the word “belonging” has challenged us to scrutinize all areas of the school. Our integrated assessments have sparked student interest in academic challenges in a less anxiety provoking manner as they utilize their problem solving and creative skills, rather than recall, in reallife scenarios.

The school has grown from two classes to three per grade. Sport hosts more than double the number of teams than in 2016 and music, art, and drama have taken centre stage. Our club offerings still do not quench the thirst of students who eagerly want more. The pandemic has left no one untouched and has redefined what exactly the “soul of society” is.

Preparing students for life in the 1940s was vastly different to the needs of students in the twenty first century. Today’s ideas are focused on mitigating obsoletion and fostering adaptability as decades roll from one to the next. Yet one thing has held true, unified us all, and been an anchor in the storm of a changing society. That is our commitment to the consistency and relevance of our school’s values as we aspire to live with authenticity in South Africa today.

It has been a great honour to have been part of this establishment for the past seven years. The Round Square motto that “there is more in you than you know” has certainly proved true in my own life. My deep appreciation and admiration go to all my beloved students, who brought laughter, joy and pride into each of my days; and teachers with whom I have formed close bonds and who have enriched my life. My two mentors, Sue Redlinghuys and Shelley Frayne are two of the finest educationalists in South Africa. I salute their courage. Sulochnee Nair was my gentle encourager. No one could have asked for finer people with whom to share life’s career journey.

My commitment to education and St Cyprian’s will last a lifetime. As I prepare to leave campus, I take with me treasured memories and deep gratitude to God for the opportunities the school has given me to grow, to give and to learn. This community will always be in my thoughts and prayers. The thread continues as I entrust my grandchild’s education and preparation for life to the school. I know she is in the best hands possible as the “soul of society” is instilled in her.

Carol te Water Naude Head: Preparatory School