I was recently tidying up cupboards and came across files in which each of my children’s memories were filed. One of these letters was addressed to my eldest son, Louis, who has been living in America for 14 years now. He is a gifted electronics engineer, someone who is still busy fighting against injustice and injustice in society. He also has a passion for good education and especially education that has grown from private initiative. The article referred to is André P Brink’s article that he wrote for his son who was going to school for the first time. I thought that this letter that I wrote to him when he was 20 years old and I was in my forties might mean something to other parents.
My sons were in Grade 5 and Grade 2 respectively when we discovered Regio. As a former mainstream teacher, the decision to move my children to Regio was not taken lightly. I was disillusioned with the conventional school system and wanted something better for my children.
One of the big reasons was the fact that children in Regio are encouraged to think for themselves, discover and use and develop their natural curiosity and creativity. They are guided to systematically tackle big projects and not just parrot facts like in other schools.
In all honesty, I was very worried about how they would adjust to high school when the time came, but the philosophy made sense to me and we made the big move and have never looked back.
My children blossomed at Regio! Everyone was given the opportunity to participate in all activities. They were able to grow and develop in a safe, stimulating environment. There was no bullying or unhealthy competition and both children’s self-esteem developed to the point where they can tackle life with confidence.
My eldest is in Grade 8 this year in one of the macro schools in Pretoria. He has adapted easily and enjoys every aspect of school. He participates enthusiastically in sports and social activities and does very well academically. The emphasis that Regio places on mathematics is very clear in the distinction he obtained in it, while many other peers struggle with the subject.
I will always be grateful to Dr Elsie Calitz who founded Regio. Her vision and passion live on in every strong, responsible child produced by Regio. We live 52km from the school, but will continue to brave the traffic daily so that my younger children can enjoy the full benefits of Regio.
When I read the sketch by André P Brink, I knew that every parent carries similar images around with them, but that few of us can say it so beautifully to our children. Nevertheless, I would like to share with you some of the images and comparisons that I have.
When you are twenty, you look ahead, impatient to change the future and bend to your ideals. When you have passed forty, you often look back and wonder what you have achieved. Perhaps, and quite probably, a man looks at life differently. When I look at what I have achieved, I must certainly count my children among my greatest achievements. I wonder if you ever realize how important you are to me, how much you are in my thoughts and prayers and how much pleasure you give me.
You are spreading your wings, soon you will be completely independent. It is only when you have your own family that you will re-evaluate the family from which you came. I would so love to give you a “winged word” to take with you, but being only a mother, none of my words are winged, only mother words. What do I give you then? “A wooden sword and your bread and milk…? Parents are often like blind people in a maze, without a book of directions. We are given the most precious package to carry with us through the maze. Parents usually have a good idea of where they want to go, but the path and the directions only become clear little by little. In this whole process of “searching and finding”, it is not only the child who is educated, but also the parent.
André Brink’s image of Don Quixote with his wooden sword touched me deeply, because in some ways it is you. Yet I would not have you any other way. It is good to storm the windmills of society with your wooden sword, it is good to care. Perhaps this is the most important thing I could give you on your journey through life, to care.
“Good journey my little knight”.
I have a wonderful little girl with an excellent sharp sense of humor who just couldn’t adapt to mainstream schools, despite various adjustments we made, as well as 2 years of therapy she underwent to improve her IQ.
I myself am qualified as an “Adult Outcomes Based Learning Practitioner”, and just couldn’t understand certain aspects of conventional schools. Some days it just broke my child’s heart. As an 8-year-old girl in mainstream schools, she was also bullied on an emotional and physical level
I started looking for other options, went to see schools and called around, and was graciously told about Regio Primary School a year later by a friend. The principal was very kind and invited my child to come over for the day and spend time with them to see if she would fit in and like it. After that, she was enrolled and we haven’t regretted it for a day!
Regio Primary School follows a wonderful philosophy and my child is thriving! She is very happy. Within 6 months we could see a big difference in her behavior. She was much calmer and started talking about little things that bothered her again.
She used to be a child who looked for every excuse in the book to stay home or go to work with Mommy, and this year she begged us to please not leave and keep her out of school; she would like to have 100% attendance!
Thank you Regio Primary School for your wonderful support! Thank you for having direct access to the teachers who listen to us and our children, and help them so well where they go wrong. Thank you for not allowing bullying, and for teaching the children well about right and wrong and how to make their own plans, and not to give up if they struggle or don’t succeed. You help us raise independent children.
