A Morning at Leeuwenhof

Leeuwenhof

Johan Bresler certainly knew what he was doing in 1714 when he chose the site in the Gardens on which to build his new residence.  With Table Mountain soaring above it, this Cape Dutch residence, with its impeccably manicured gardens, proved to be an imposing venue at which Premier Helen Zille could host the annual Matric awards exactly three hundred years later.

Principals, parents and pupils mingled with WCED officials on the lawns enjoying both the occasion and the accolades. It was a privilege to be part of it. The thanks for my invitation to attend this prestigious event must go to the WBHS Class of 2013. It was because of their efforts that 90.4% of them had returned Bachelor Passes enabling them to apply for university studies. Another worthy statistic was that 83% of them earned Mathematics passes - thus keeping many doors open for tertiary studies and careers in the years to come.  The Grade Average was just over 67% – a noteworthy achievement and emulated in only one other year in Wynberg’s long history.

These results gave the school an award for 14th place in the Province – a worthy tribute to the determination of the boys, the planning and inspiration of Director of Academics, Neil Eddy, and all the matric teachers.  The R15 000 which accompanied the award made it even more welcome.  Although he did not attain a place in the top twenty in the Western Cape, Jason Raad’s ten subject distinctions have certainly placed him foremost in the pantheon of Wynberg academics over the years.

In addition to Jason, who was also a Springbok Scout as well as being a top musician, it was interesting casting my eye down the top ten names of Wynberg boys and noting how many boys who, in spite of being heavily involved in so many areas of school life, were still able to prioritise their activities so that their academic results would do them proud.  I saw SA Schools waterpolo player, Anthony McHendrie (86% aggregate);  Head Prefect, Chorister, 1st XV rugby and 1st team waterpolo player, Mark Timlin (87%); Academic Prefect, Joshua Arendse (86%);  House Head of Lorie and provincial athlete, Luthando Siboya (83%); House Head of the winning house, Wellington, and top musician, Simon White-Phillips (84%).  They proved the point that Wynberg is truly a holistic school offering an all-round education.

Jason Raad

This is not to take away the fact that we are proud of all our boys who made the calculated decision that they would put in the effort to return a Matric Certificate which would do justice to their talents.

‘Thank you to all the schools,’ said MEC Donald Grant, ‘who are offering their pupils better life chances by insisting on quality subject choices and high standards.  It is quality passes which we want from our schools which will enable our matriculants to have wider choices in the years ahead.’ He commended those pupils who had done well for’ they had lifted the tide for all other ships to rise.’

The top matriculants at Wynberg had also heeded a similar injunction and proved to be an inspiration for their peers in the rest of the Grade.  From the school stage, I have often quoted a metaphor used by Nelson Mandela, which expressed the same sentiments: ‘Let your light shine,’ he said, ‘ for it unconsciously gives permission for other people to do the same.’

Later in the morning, the Premier continued on the same theme:  ‘He to whom much is given, much is expected.’  As most of the top twenty schools were from privileged sectors of society, it was only right that this point should be accentuated.

This topic was brought home vividly when awards were made in the category:  ‘Inspiration in spite of challenges’.  These went to matriculants who had returned quality matric results in spite of handicaps.  A blind girl came up as well as a boy from Ceres who had been paralysed from birth. A number of pupils, who had achieved subject distinctions even though they came from troubled areas in the townships, were rewarded.

The parents of the boy from Joe Slovo High School, who had received one of these awards, were sitting in front of me.  They were bursting with happiness.  They just hugged and hugged their son when he returned to his seat.  The mother of the crippled boy from Charlie Hofmeyr High School in Ceres had tears of pride running down her cheeks.  It brought home to me yet again the role of parents in bringing up a teenager.  No school can ever replace a committed parent – they are the cogs on which their children revolve.

This same argument of beating the odds is also not lost on our universities. Some years back, I rang the University of the Western Cape to enquire whether they would accept one of our matriculants, a Langa boy, who had a very ordinary matric – but was a decent sportsman.

‘You do not understand, Mr Richardson,’ the spokesman for the University of the Western Cape responded.’ Malusi Siboto has a very low average. There are thousands of pupils from township schools who have that average – and better. They do not have a fraction of your facilities, quality of teachers , assistance from counsellors, access to library and computers.  Yet, with all these opportunities, your boy can only achieve those marks.  What message does that send me about his motivation and commitment?  I would rather take another township pupil who achieved the same mark, or even less, because he has had to work much harder to reach his level of achievement.’

I found it hard to fault that argument. That is exactly how it should be.  Acceptance of mediocrity in education is the scourge of South Africa at the moment. Part of our Wynberg Brand is to ‘Aim High’ – and it is one we much continually stress.  Nelson Mandela, of course, summed it up even more succinctly:  There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

Malusi Siboto

As it turned out, in spite of this disappointment, Malusi Siboto refused to ‘play it small.’  After a number of applications to various institutions, he was eventually accepted at Potchestroom University where, full credit to him, he succeeded in graduating.  He is currently playing franchise cricket, with commendable success, for the Free State Eagles.  However we must never lose sight of the fact that the University of the Western Cape had made a very valid point all those years ago.

Like any activity in life – business, sport, academic studies- matric is a solo effort ,but nothing can be achieved without the backup of a team.  The solo part is the decision making and the commitment made by individuals, but all pupils tackling matric need the active support of parents and the ongoing encouragement and mentoring of teachers.  At the announcement of results in the school foyer on January 7th this year, there were a number of teachers present who had come to school to see how their classes and tutor groups had done.  It was particularly interesting to see how many Matrics made a beeline for teachers after they had seen their results.  I saw letters changing hands.  I saw handshakes.  I observed heartfelt hugs of relief, gratitude and congratulation.  All this made it palpably clear that many of the Matrics were appreciative of the partnerships which made all this possible.

In a small way, it reminded me of what Jacques Kallis said at the end of his speech to the world after his last test match at Kingsmead in Durban after Christmas a few weeks back.  ‘There are two people not here today,’ he said, ‘my Mom and Dad.  I hope that I have succeeded in making them proud.’

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every boy leaving school could say that?