Art @
Sinethemba
a project of SAEP@Sinethemba
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Art @ Sinethemba a project of SAEP@Sinethemba |
Sinethemba |
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| Senior Secondary School |
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I. THE BACKGROUND: 2001-2002 |
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SAEP has played a crucial role in the
development of the teaching and study of art at Sinethemba S.S.S.
At the time SAEP became involved, art was not offered as a
"matric" subject at Sinethemba. In May 2001, SAEP
approached the Frank Joubert Art and Design Centre ("Frank
Joubert") in Claremont for their support in building capacity for
art teaching at Sinethemba and in providing art lessons for small groups
of Sinethemba teachers and learners. Frank Joubert responded
enthusiastically and SAEP arranged a meeting between school officials
and the staff of Frank Joubert and the Ibhabhathane
Project, which conducts the programmes in question. As indicated below, the programme
has been a great success. Morover, due to the efforts of the
school administration, Sinethemba will have an art room for the first
time beginning in 2003 so that the subject may be properly taught as
part of the school curriculum. |
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Most often
environmental issues are the ‘domain’ of scientists. However, arts and
humanities have an essential role in awakening public interest to the beauty
that surrounds us. We love what is beautiful and we protect what we love.
Therefore, art and environmental education are inter-linked. A crucial
role for SAEP in this area is to help build capacity for teaching,
and mobilize additional resources, for schools in township areas
that have historically been under-resourced in areas like the arts. |
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On May 10, 2001, SAEP organised a visit to the Frank Joubert Art & Design Centre for a group of teachers from Sinethemba. The group was led by Winter Busika, headmaster of the high school and Boyce Papu, managing director, SAEP. At the center, we were welcomed by Jill Joubert, Director of the Centre, and Colin Stevens, director of the Ibhabhatane Project. Jill guided us through the halls where several drawings by learners were on exhibition. It was impressive to see the results of only one work session; and even more so when considering that those children had never had art training before! We went on to admire photographs and ceramics – again, the work of students. Excitement and awe engulfed us all. After our appetite was stimulated by what we had seen, Jill presented the Ibhabhathane Project. (In this project, learners from disadvantaged schools are bussed to an arts centre for art lessons. Their teachers also attend 4 Saturday mornings INSET workshop per term. Learners and teachers are introduced to galleries and museums, etc for stimulation.) The programme seeks to encourage visual art and design in disadvantaged primary and high schools. The Centre works on different art and design projects with grade five to seven and grade eight and nine students and their teachers from under-resourced schools from the Cape Flats. Working with teachers adds much value to the project, since upon completion they will act as Art teachers in their respective schools. Mr.
Busika and the teachers from Sinethemba were very excited to join the programme.
The headmaster expressed his support for the teachers who would attend the
training workshops and also his intention to enroll Sinethemba in the 2002
Ibhabhathane programme. Arts were beginning to flourish at Sinethemba - and with that
a sense of wonder and appreciation for the nature around us! |
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For
the balance of 2001 and 2002, the relationship between Sinethemba and
Frank Joubert grew with the Centre providing training in the teaching of
art to groups of Sinethemba teachers and lessons to small groups of
learners from the School. Training sessions for the teachers were
held on Saturday mornings, and sessions for the learners were held on
Saturday mornings or school afternoons. Theodore Linderts,
Vice-Principal of Sinethemba, joined the group of teachers and has
himself become an active and enthusiastic partipant in the training
programme for art instuctors. The relationship between Sinethemba
and the Frank Joubert Centre has been so successful that it will
continue and, with SAEP's assistance, expand in significant ways in
2003. |
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