One day at Sully primary school in Tana.
On schedule :
drawing lesson
painting on a wall
On the 17th of october 2014, a few days before leaving Madagascar, I had the chance to propose a drawing course for the fifth grade class.
Sully is one of the first school that has kept french education after the revolution in 1972, year of "Malagasization", succeeding to the independance year of 1960.
Until now, it works according to the french system. They have the same course of study, exams and holidays as in France.
Thanks to Madame RAFIDINARIVO Sahondra, I could visit the place and be presented to the various classes.
"Madame Sahondra ", named by collegues and children, is proud of her students and staff, who trained thousand of pupils for more than 40 years.
She explained :
The school was created in 1957 by Marcelle GREGERSEN SPOHR. Now, it has 2 spots : one in Tsaralalana, and one in Ambodivonkely, which I am responsible for.»
« I started in 1971 as a malagasy speaker. Two years later, I became a primary school teacher.
I taught there for 9 years, then I became assistant director , and in 2003 I took the headmistress post. »
But year 2006 is marked by the death of Madame GREGERSEN SPOHR, who was an almost hundred years old woman, always working at the school, loved by everyone, and known for her implication.
During my walk, smelling chalks, seeing these cute hanged school bags and desks of my time, immerses me back in my childhood !
So I appreciate more the story of Madame Sahondra, who continues :
« With one of my Tasaralalana collegue, we became, in 2006, the 2 owners of the school. But, after 2009 events, we had to move.
Today, we will need to move again because the structure has to be adapted to the increased amount of students. So I’m looking for a ground for the start of the school year 2015/2016.»
In agreement with the headmistress, I choose the fifth grade class for my lesson, because I need 2 hours to cover a complete theme. In France, I didn’t have more than 18 students, and I was going to discover the atmosphere with 30 pupils !
This day, my fifht grade class had physical education, they wear the red uniform. We can feel discipline and good mood too.
Here is a second grade class.
As I am giving my lesson, Nirvân offered to do all the Pictures day photographs.
Pupils, who know we were coming, were curious and interested.
«But if the sir, he is a photographer.. why you say he is a baker? »
These little girls are almost doll-like ! They are so lovely !
10.00 am, it’s time !
While I arrived in the corridor, stressed, I hear the class chatting.. Suddenly, one of the student sees me and shouts to his friends : « Teacher is coming !!! »
The silence is immediate !
Enough to build a bit of stress and intimidation .. and I think it might be seen on my face :p
Then starts my drawing class, the student are…studious.
They ask about my work and most already know the mangas I’m talking about : Naruto, Dragon Ball, One piece, Bleach and so on..
I manage to be able to help them individually. And I can see that many of them have good skills.
I can use two boards for explanations: a black one with chalk (I love it !) and a white board with pencils. By the way, it’s amazing to see how much the kids love to write on the professor’s board. They even fight for their right to clean it!
After showing them the basics, I let them create their own character, decorate it the way they want, before coloring it.
They are happy with their results and so am I :)
On the afternoon, as agreed with Madame Sahondra, I begin a painting on the school wall.
Everything is DIY : pencils and painting.
It is fairly hard to find the right colors, and the paint tends not to stay on the plastered side of the wall, but I’m doing my best :)
In series of layers
Finally, it’s an acceptable result :p
A beautiful experience to complete this trip !
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