Shrilly and piercingly “Uncle Shane” speaks its mind. All noise stops with the abruptness of a bird crashing into a solid brick wall in midflight. In some faraway high-school near the Eastern Cape coast-line a certain bald and shiny-headed educator, delivering the verdict to yet another disciplinary hearing, momentarily experiences a slight tug towards nothing in particular, followed by a fleeting yet splitting headache.
That was Ma’am Reyburn who had just blown the whistle for silence (called Uncle Shane after a rigorous process of physiological analysis, name-changing and a bit of embarrassment on the behalf of some) signalling the end to a heated debate between two groups of boys regarding the true nature of the character of King Henry V.
It is difficult to explain the true success of the form 4 English Co-Operative Learning Class. English is quite a tricky subject to teach, or so many would believe. But I think that the English Department has cracked it again. By creating a casual workplace among friends, all sharing an uncanny knack for English, they have allowed room for creativity to sparkle, opinions and ideas to flourish and precise and logical debates to fly. It is hard not to become overwhelmed by this fresh influx of knowledge achieved by a class room of College boys actually putting their minds to something. A new enthusiasm has taken residence in the hearts of many; thus revealed a passion and devotion now shared by almost all.
I take my hat off to the English Department – like I said – I really think they have done it again!
Pieter Strydom
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