CGS was a secondary school with a curriculum essentially
the same as found in the UK. Classes were all in English reflecting the country's
past as a British colony. The science building got electricity from the school
generator and water from rainwater collected in a tank from drains off the
building roof. There was a generous supply of equipment for Panicker's biology
classes, Thomas's chemistry classes, ...
and my physics classes.
My 3rd to 6th form physics classes spanned high school to introductory college
level material in the US. Here, the 6th form physics class is taking an open
book test.
But I tried making all this learning as
interesting and as much fun as possible. Near
the front of my classroom I assembled a small
library and after buying a juju or black magic
mask in the local market I introduced it as
"Nicholas", the newest student in the class,
complete with school cap and Igbo markings.
Using prerecorded tapes by the real Nicholas
and with a secretly hidden switch and tape
recorder "Nicholas" was able to carry on
limited conversations with my students and
provide answers to the most difficult questions.
Astonished students had a difficult time coming
to terms with this new student in view of the
prevailing strong beliefs in native magical powers.
Listen to "Nicholas" (192.6k)
PRESS HEREto exit the African Journey Web Site