Today has been informative; we started the morning by receiving a brief overview of Senegalese history and culture, as well as the educational system. I always enjoy hearing history from another perspective, but in this case especially so, since I certainly never learned ANYTHING about pre-colonial African history in school. Senegal has a rich history of peace and tolerance; I heard this described by a lady yesterday as being “excellent talkers.” By this she means that Senegal has a record of being the peacekeepers and negotiators for the region.
There was much to learn, compare, and process in our morning sessions, but what struck me the most was a simple sentence that one presenter mentioned in passing when speaking of the fact that most of the Muslim population (which comprises over 94% of the Senegal) are Sufi. He said, “There is nothing they have to teach us.” Out of context, this sentence seems odd for a teacher to say, but he was referring to Islamic extremists who are trying to convert the Sufi in Senegal to more fundamental sects of Islam. As in, Senegal has such a rich history of practicing Islam, being at peace with each other and other religions and ethnicities, that there is no place for those who want to isolate and make them into something they are not. In the afternoon we heard from a panel of teachers and teacher trainers of English as a foreign language, who were very dynamic and passionate about their profession. The English teachers in Senegal have formed an organization for voluntary peer professional development and observation- completely voluntary, but with the goal of continuous improvement as a practice. We heard from some truly outstanding educators who shared some truly wonderful philosophies and ideals. We went to dinner at Fleur-de-Lys in the heart of the city, which had some nice views of the bay as the sun was setting. I had the privilege of sitting with Rokhaya, our in-country consultant, and brainstorming some ideas of how to create a partnership amongst our students to help promote girls’ education, particularly in STEM.
1 Comment
Jen N
4/9/2016 08:43:06 am
It's an exciting idea to connect your students in Columbia with the students in Senegal, especially the girls targeted by the non-profit. Did you involve your US students in preparations for the trip?
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Kirstin Bullington
I teach science, engineering, and computer science at W.J. Keenan High School in Columbia, SC Archives
March 2016
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