Snore, snore, dream, dream, tweet, tweet, chirp, chirp, tootoo-to-toot, tootoo-to-toot, awake!\u00a0 5.40 a.m.\u00a0 Bathroom, get dressed, check school bag, feed dog a treat, out the door.\u00a0 6.05 a.m.\u00a0 Driving along the coastal road as the day cracks its first silver light across the dark and heaving ocean.\u00a0 Glencairn, Fish Hoek, St James, Muizenberg.\u00a0 I begin to refresh the day ahead…..lesson plans, certain children, certain teachers, school tasks…….thoughts of personal life enter and leave, the trained mind returning always to the school day ahead.\u00a0 On the freeway towards Cape Town I notice pink marsh lilies singing their autumn lullabies to the passing traffic.\u00a0 The golden sun has risen between clouds, heralding new miracles for the new day.\u00a0 It\u2019s 7.am.<\/p>\n
I enter my classroom and prepare it for the day, before checking my school\u00a0 notes, practicing a song or two on the recorder and heading for the staffroom, where teachers are gathering for the their verse at 7.30 a.m.\u00a0 After this the teachers discuss current issues over coffee and one of us enters the playground for child supervision duties.<\/p>\n
At 8 the children are assembled outside and led to their classrooms to begin the Main Lessson.<\/p>\n
<\/b>\u201cThe sun with loving light<\/em> -Rudolf Steiner<\/p>\n And so begins the teaching day.<\/p>\n By the time the last lesson finishes, it\u2019s 12.30 and we have been crafting, drawing, forming, moving, singing, playing, swimming, dancing, writing, adding, balancing, and so much more.\u00a0 Not always all on the same day, but pretty much so.\u00a0 We clean up and say our goodbyes and usually one or two children linger a little longer for a chat or to finish something off.\u00a0 But in between the lessons there have been phone calls to parents, flash meetings with teachers or admin staff, nursing duties, altercation mediations, break duties and the like.\u00a0 PHEW the day is over ….or is it?\u00a0 No no not a chance, only just beginning.\u00a0 Now come the faculty meetings, the enrichment workshops, conference planning, festival preparations, letter writing, chairperson duties and for some teachers, more teaching!\u00a0 And then the board meetings and school functions, parent evenings, weekend workshops….and sometimes we go home for dinner and a good night\u2019s rest…it\u2019s true.\u00a0 Well I believe some teachers get home and have to cook for their families as well.<\/p>\n Driving home I find myself letting go of it all and contemplating a sunset walk and swim at the beach.<\/p>\n And do we go back the next day and like the children, greet the dawning of a new school day with brand-new excitement and enthusiasm?\u00a0 Mostly, yes!<\/p>\n Matthew Stodel Snore, snore, dream, dream, tweet, tweet, chirp, chirp, tootoo-to-toot, tootoo-to-toot, awake!\u00a0 5.40 a.m.\u00a0 Bathroom, get dressed, check school bag, feed dog a treat, out the door.\u00a0 6.05 a.m.\u00a0 Driving along the coastal road as the day cracks its first silver light across the dark and heaving ocean.\u00a0 Glencairn, Fish Hoek, St James, Muizenberg.\u00a0 I begin …<\/p>\n
\nMakes bright for me each day,<\/em>
\nThe soul with Spirit power<\/em>
\nGives strength unto my limbs,<\/em>
\nIn sunlight shining clear<\/em>
\nI revere oh God,<\/em>
\nThe strength of humankind<\/em>
\nWhich Thou so graciously<\/em>
\nHath planted in my soul,<\/em>
\nThat I with all my might<\/em>
\nMay love to work and learn.<\/em>
\nFrom thee come light and strength<\/em>
\nTo Thee rise love and thanks.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
\nClass 2 Teacher<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"