JOURNEYS & REFLECTIONS
South Africa Educational Study Program

The Education Studies Department at Skidmore College has an ongoing exchange since 1996 with the Edendale Primary School in South Africa. This exchange initiated by Karen Brackett of the Education Studies Department at Skidmore College and Rina Prenzler of Edendale, has allowed for several visits by administrative faculty and teachers from both programs over the last several years. In 2001 and every other year thereafter, a short-term abroad educational study program has been offered for course credit to fifteen college students. A few teachers from local community schools have also joined the group. Research endeavors include an oral history study across ethnic groups focusing on apartheid and post-apartheid eras and a study looking at reading, as well as writing practice at different grade levels. This work has been presented at conferences offered by The National Association for the Education of Young Children and The Association for Childhood Education International. History of the exchange can be accessed at www.skidmore.edu under the Educational Studies Department.

The Edendale Primary School was established during the “apartheid” years when there was a need for good education for children of all races at the lowest possible cost. It is located in the lovely rural area between Mamelodi, Ekhangala, and Cullinan, 30 km. out of Pretoria. The school started as a Lutheran mission school in the early 1900s, which almost a century later became the campus of the Promat College. In the 1960s it became a farm school. In 1992 it privatized and has grown to one of the best schools in the Gauteng area. The school currently has an orphanage on site for children with parents who have died of Aids.

The Journeys & Reflections: Skidmore Educational Study Program in South Africa is designed to expose Skidmore College students to the history, culture, geography and education system of South Africa. This experience helps students think globally and provides them with a powerful non-Western cultural experience. During this study abroad program students meet South African primary teachers and their students in a variety of school observations.

Local public school teachers who joined us on the study tour in the past have been involved in numerous projects. We had a teleconference in 2003 between children at Edendale and children at the Schuylerville Central School District. In 2005, we had a teleconference between the Edendale Primary School and schools in the Saratoga Springs School District. In 2007, three teachers from the Saratoga district were invited and  participated in the journey.

For the upcoming May 2009 journey several  projects are under way. One project involves working with Patti’s Quilting Shop in Glens Falls to create quilts for children at Makhulong Children’s Village and in other orphanages in the Pretoria area as well as, for children in the Lesotho area. Skidmore College students and the professional team participating in this journey will work with staff at Patti’s on several Wednesdays and Saturdays before departure to create quilts.  African fabric will be used in some way in each quilt so the children will feel a sense of cultural comfort surrounding them. The finished quilts will be packed in our suitcases and delivered to the children while on route May 17-June 12, 2009.  Students will also create story quilts using photos and children's artwork as a foundation.  An ongoing oral history research study across ethnic groups will continue to focus on apartheid and post-apartheid eras. 

Keep in touch with our travel experience on the Skidmore Education Studies website as we will update regularly on our journey.

For additional information about the journey contact: