Thomas More reflects on Mandela’s struggles
As part of the school's Mandela 27 Challenge, learners, staff and parents were given the chance to sit in a replica of Mandela's prison cell, reading the poems he read and experiencing the solitude his cell created.
A BLANKET on the floor, a makeshift pillow, a small bench, a metal bowl and a plate and metal trash can.
These few items made up the entirety of Mandela’s prison cell on Robben Island, where he spent 27 years of his life.
In an effort to take its learners beyond simply reading about his incarceration, Thomas More College recreated his prison cell below its main building on the campus.
Similar in its sparse furnishings, learners and parents were encouraged to sit in isolation in the small room for 27 minutes with nothing more than two hand-written replicas of the poems Mandela said helped him through that time of his life.
This was part of the school’s Mandela 27 Challenge, also earmarking the former president’s centenary.
“There is this feeling in the country at the moment where we seem to be more jaded. This space allows us to visit some of the positives of the country and reflect on it. It is not something ‘wow’ or ‘explosive’,” said the high school’s history teacher, Wesley Maurice.
“There is a hauntedness to it and a bit of reality kicks in.”
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“Just sitting in there for a few minutes, on your own, you get a little bit of realisation. I would never have imagined myself as being a president sitting there. It makes you realise that maybe optimism and vision does have a place. I found it profound. Everyone that took part in the exercise found something different in the experience,” said Maurice.
Once the 27 minutes were complete, each person could dip their thumb in coloured paint and place it on a canvas, followed with their signature.
On Mandela Day, Wednesday 18 July, Thomas More College’s high school projects on the day will cover the environment, spoiling their ground staff and cleaning up around school.
“Each grade in high school is fully involved in various Mandela Day projects,” said the high school headmaster, Dave Wiggett.
“We are trying to dig deep into what is considered as inspired education. We don’t want our kids to just sit in class and be passengers in their learning. We really want to inspire our children to think and engage beyond their immediate reality,” said Wigget.
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