Merry Christmas Ghana

This is the month to
remember mom: Dec 17, 2007

Well, Merry Christmas in Ghana.  School is on vacation and I have no reasonable excuse not to update my blog.   It is warm, dusty and dry now.  I often wondered where all the smoke that comes from the behind of almost every truck, tro-tro or taxi on every hill or climb goes.  For my first six months the skies were clear with scattered clouds that gathered to produce some rain at least every other day. The result: no smog in the day and the night skies that are a wonder to behold when the power is out.  We haven’t had a drop of rain for two weeks or more and, just like Seattle, a haze has developed and turned the sky to a pale grey right to the zenith. The sun sets red and the moon only tries to shine through the haze.  It’s warmer in the day but the air is dryer and the nights are cooler now.

Emmanuel: Top Score in District
Math Exam, SA JHS

Betty: A really good
Math student at SA JHS

Ophelia: Another really good
Math Student, SA JHS
Form 1

Enough about the weather: my Form 1 students weathered their first set of district tests this month.  I expected them to struggle a bit with math, but was more than dismayed by both the difficulty of the test (many questions went beyond the text or they syllabus) and their performance on questions they should have mastered. I not only threw out three or four questions, I gave pupils credit for answering them correctly.  If all questions were properly within the objectives, many of them would have scored far worse. I have much work to do if they can turn math into a subject that they can handle.  Emmanuel Fripong who spent the last four weeks of the term in hospital after being hit by a car riding his bicycle obtained the best test score. Overall Betty and Ophelia Owusu got the best grades, because Emmanuel didn’t do homework or exercises while in the hospital.  I advised his class mates that if they did not improve their work by mid-term, I would break all their legs and see if 3 weeks in hospital would improve their marks (I may be kidding; we’ll see.)

Kukurantum Hub Language Trainers: Cecilia, Ida, Taj, Me & Moses

Part of the problem is their lack of confidence in their own thinking.  More than one student crossed out a correct answer and replaced it with an incorrect one that he obtained from a neighbor. Another problem they have is with the English language.  I relate with them for that; my struggle to bring my Twi up to a serviceable level makes me quite sympathetic.  This month I had to go to Kukurantumi to retake my language test.  I was sworn-in in August with the condition that I retake the test in my first 3 months of service.  So I returned to the Kukurantumi Hub where I passed the test, but I missed the last week of school.  One of the difficulties for my students was the number and length of my absences. 10 days in October at the Kumasi Sub Office when my septic system overflowed concurrently with a case of diarrhea. 10 days in November for Thanksgiving at the Ambassador’s residence and then 4 days in Kukurantumi. Not good for continuity and remediation of subject matter.  A lot of good Peace Corps is doing here so far, but I expect do better next term.  We have far to go in math and science next term. It was some comfort to discover that most of my fellow teachers experienced similar difficulties.

One of my hopes after “Wade in de Watah” was to start an after-school music program.  I thought I could teach a couple of African-American Spirituals and Christmas Songs, and learn a couple Ghanaian songs from them.  I have discovered this week that the largest denominations in my town make a point of not observing Christmas as a holiday.  Here children celebrate Christmas by asking for gifts of money or food whenever you greet them.  I faced the day ill-supplied.  Esther my neighbor suggests that if someone asks for a gift to ask them what they have brought for me.  I will give them their gift when they bring me mine

If I do something with music next term I will have to consult with my neighbor, Esther, she usually offers good counsel and her brother teaches music in a secondary school nearby.  An after school math/science club is also a strong possibility for next term.  I simply need to find what lies within the interest of the students and my ability to do something for it.