Critical Reflection on the Influences in the Development of a Black African Male Educator

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Critical Reflection on the Influences in the Development of a Black African Male Educator An Auto-Ethnographic Enquiry: Critical Reflection on the Influences in the Development of a Black African Male Educator by By Jerome Thamsanqa Gumede Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Technology: Education in the School of Education at the Durban University of Technology Supervisor: Professor Joan Conolly Co-Supervisor: Professor Edgard Sienaert Durban April 2011 Page 1 DECLARATION I, Jerome Thamsanqa Gumede, declare that this research project for the degree of Doctor of Technology: Education, has not been submitted previously for a degree at the Durban University of Technology, or any other Institution or University, and that it is my own work in execution, and all material contained herein is acknowledged. Page 2 DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the memories of my loved ones for their contribution in my personality development. To my beloved mother, Mary Tseiso „MaPhooko‘ Gumede. To my carer, Lucia Bizekile ‗Aunt MaHlongwa‘ Nene. To my father, Theophilus Sipho ‗Mpandlana‘ Gumede. To my brothers, James Bongani „Shushu Baby‘, Ernest Thulani. To my sister, Litetia Makhosazana ‗Zizimbane‘ Mbitamkhono. To my friends, Ambrose Gcinuyise ‗Nongede‘ Gambushe, Phillip Bona Nzimande and Derrick ‗Dede‘ Madoda Mafoane. May you rest in peace! You are greatly missed. Lalani ngoxolo! Siyanikhumbula. Page 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to register my indebted and sincere appreciation to the following: God Almighty - ‗Umvelingqangi‘ - who has given me the gift and strength to persevere in all times of trouble. The Gumede Family ―Abantwana bakwaQwabe‖. Professor E. Sienaert for his exemplary behaviour and encouragement. Professor J. Conolly for her unfailing support. My wife Nompumelelo Mirriam ‗Mandayi‘ Gumede, my daughters Manina, S‘mangele, Lungile, Busisiwe and Nelisiwe who have supported and encouraged me to continue with my studies. My sister, Bathabile, through all our trying times. My colleagues at Nobamba, Mshweshwe, Mthusi High Schools over the years and my educators at the following institutions: Carlson, Murchison, Ingwemabala, Amanzimtoti, University of South Africa, College of Education of South Africa, and Durban University of Technology. The National Research Foundation for partial funding of my research project. My fellow students - Theo, Christinah, Clementine, Mzuyabonga, Robert, Bongani, Mpucuko, Snoeks, Anita, Jane, Tra bi Goh for their ideas during lectures. My participants who gave me their time and information willingly. You are great! ―Niyobongwa kwelizayo‖ ―You will be gratified in heaven‖ ―Kuphumelela Ezabalazayo” ―Success comes through sweat‖ Page 4 ABSTRACT This thesis sets out to demonstrate the influences on the personality of a Black African Male Educator – specifically mine - as I enquire: ―Why do I do things the way I do?‖ and ―What has enabled me to meet, face and resolve the challenges that I have come across in life?‖ I have addressed these questions from a self-study perspective, using narrative enquiry, living theories methods and auto-ethnography. I have written this thesis aware that I lived the first thirty seven years of my life under the potentially personality deforming oppression of apartheid, and that I have conducted my study and written my thesis in the context of the HIV&AIDS pandemic. In creating my own ―living theory‖ philosophy, I look at my epistemology - How do I know what/that I know? - my ontology – Who am I? Who am I becoming? What do I believe? and my axiology – What do I value? In creating my own ―living theory‖ (Whitehead, 2008), I examine the influences which have informed my personality development and that of my research participants. The originality of the contribution of this thesis to the academy is to demonstrate the influence of one person‘s personal origin and naming, carers and family, childhood experiences and learning, sport and sport instructors on his personality development. In addition, the thesis highlights the usefulness of forms of knowledge - herding and induku - that have not been explicitly declared as useful and included formally in education. To this end, I demonstrate the connections that exist between, induku, herding, work, community involvement and education as influential in personality development. I use my personal beliefs and values – principally ubuntu and ukuhlonipha – and the Critical Cross Field Outcomes to demonstrate the relationship between these values and outcomes, my personal account and the development of my human personality. I look at the implications for education. I review the Republic of South Africa‘s National Curriculum Statement in Life Orientation Grades 10–12. I suggest ways in which the Beliefs and Values demonstrated and examined in this thesis, and Critical Cross Field Outcomes can be incorporated in Community Service Integrated Projects that can help learners to make their beliefs and values explicit in their learning, all to the end of influencing values-informed personal development. Page 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration ………………………………………………………………………………… 2 Dedication …………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Acknowledgements …………………………………………………………………….… 4 Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………...….. 5 Chapter 1 Isingeniso/Introduction ……………………………………………..………... 8 Chapter 2 Imfundo yobandlululo nangemuva kuka 1994/ The South African Education System under Apartheid and post-1994 …… 20 Chapter 3 Umnyombo Wokwenza Kwami/ Philosophy of Methodology. Kungani Ngenza Izinto Ngendlela Engenza Ngayo? / Why Do I Do Things The Way I Do? ……………………….………... 38 Chapter 4 Indlela yokwenza / Method – Engikwenzile / What I did ……………….. 61 Chapter 5 Imvelaphi, (Aba) umnakekeli, ukwethiwa abakwethu kanye nezihlaziyo/ Origin, Carer(s), Naming, my Siblings and Analysis …………….... 90 Chapter 6 Izigameko Ezisemqoka Ebunganeni Nasesikoleni/ Significant Events in My Childhood and at School ………..……… 123 Chapter 7 Izifundo ezisemqoka ebunganeni nasebusheni bami/ Significant Lesssons from my Childhood and Adolescence …..… 140 Chapter 8 Izigameko Ezisemqoka Ekufundeni, Kukarati, Nasekuqaleni Kokusebenza Kwami/ The Significance of My Studies, Karate, and my Early Working Life ………………………… 158 Chapter 9 Iminyaka eMthusi/ Mthusi High School Years ……………………..…... 177 Chapter 10 Ukubuswa Kwezikole/ School Governance ……………………….…... 191 Chapter 11 Ithimba Lokuqala Labacwaningwa/ First Group of Interviews ………. 202 Chapter 12 Ithimba Lesibili Labacwaningwa/ Second Group of Interviews ……… 232 Chapter 13 Ithimba Lesithathu Labacwaningwa/ Third Group of Interviews Ukucutshungulwa kwezithombe /Comments on photographs and analysis ………………………………………………...…….. 250 Chapter 14 Amaxabhelela Emfundweni/ Implications for Education ……….……. 263 Chapter 15 Izinselelo/ Challenges ………………………………………………….. 279 Chapter 16 Ukucabanga ngininga imuva lami/ Reflections ……………………… 291 Chapter 17 Isiphetho/ Conclusion …………………………………………………. 295 Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………….. 305 Page 6 Appendix A : Glossary ……………………………………………………….…………. 318 Appendix B : Schedule of Participants ………………………………………….…….. 329 Appendix C : Map ……………………………………………………………….………. 330 Appendix D : DVD – in pouch attached to back cover. Page 7 Chapter 1 Isingeniso Introduction Isandulelo Opening Statement This (…) is my narrative and it has been used to serve as a model that educators can use for writing their own narratives. (Goduka, 1999:1) ...contemporality acknowledges that people and events always have a past, present and future. ...sociality, targets the importance of the participant–researcher relationship. Issues of place are also central to narrative research. (Hamilton et al., 2008:20) I am a Black African Male Educator. I was born in South Africa in 1957, when Apartheid was twenty years old. The Apartheid education system in South Africa could have negatively (in)formed me from my birth to 1994, a period of thirty seven years, but I believe that factors external to the classroom impacted on my development so that I am who and what I am today, in spite of Apartheid and its education system. My African-ness is culturally richly informed due to my: Zulu-ness as my father is a Zulu, My Sotho-ness as my mother is a Sotho My Swazi-ness as my grandmother is a Swazi My Xhosa-ness as I grew at Murchison among some of the Xhosas that lived with us, and I am married to a Xhosa woman. My Afrikaner-ness that I got from the learning of the Afrikaans literature at school, being taught by Afrikaner educators, university tutors, my relationship with Sensei Cas and working with them. My English-ness that I got from the influence of being taught in English, being taught by English teachers, learning English literature and studying through the medium of English at both undergraduate and post graduate levels . Page 8 My Christian-ness as a confirmed Roman Catholic Church Member and now a Methodist Church member. My Indigenous-ness as I believe in the ancestral guidance in life as well as the relevance of indigenous knowledge in my life. This thesis is about the factors that have shaped me, and demonstrates the power of such factors even in the face of one of the most oppressive and brutal processes of social engineering in the recorded history of the modern world, and in the context of the HIV&AIDS pandemic. In this study, I have chosen to write at times in isiZulu to demonstrate the value of the mother tongue in expressing inner feelings in auto-ethnographic research, as a researcher or a participant. I have provided an equivalent account of these isiZulu expressions in English. These are not translations,
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