Cairo Chronicle, Issue #10, April 21, 2000
Hello, everyone:
This Chronicle is a little delayed because of the events of this month. It was a VERY busy one for both of us, but especially Barbara, official webmaster and Chronicle layout person. Editor-in-chief Todd has extended the deadline graciously. Luckily, we will have another (yay!) week of vacation for Easter until May 1st.
Our busy-ness has caused a great deal of stress. We have also experienced disappointment in knowing how some of our colleagues have been (mis)treated or (mis)represented by some in the upper echelons of our wonderful school. To cut to the chase, one could well say that we are becoming slightly cynical about our role here -- and the role that education here is taking. We enjoy working with the kids, and have had few qualms or complaints. We enjoy the collegial atmosphere in the elementary school, the bonding that has been and is occurring, and the administration's overall willingness to support us. But lately it seems some undesired doo-doo (pardon our language) has been hitting the fan rapidly, leaving us to wonder whether our school truly wants to build a desirable educational program. These feelings have been exacerbated (perhaps blown out of proportion?) by the stress of our Third Term, leading to a dearth of pleasant dinnertime conversation! Right now, the only thing going for us is the anticipation of coming home for two months at the end of June. While in general, our letters have been positive and upbeat, we apologize if some of the negativity and growing cynicism come out in this narrative.
We want to reiterate our position: American International School's elementary program has by far been one of the richest experiences we have had as a couple or for that matter as individuals. As most all of you know (but a rehash for those who have forgotten), AIS is a business. Therefore, the politics of that business cater first and foremost to its clients -- the students and the parents. Teachers here are mere servants to these parents and students, and therefore in some instances education (of late) has taken a back seat to the mighty Egyptian Pound and US Dollar. We understand, therefore, the nature of the Beast. Being used to a system in which a teacher's voice is heard, we have come to learn that quiet submission here is the best policy. Please do not misconstrue our position: We are happy to be here, and happy to work in this most challenging environment. And admittedly, the elementary school's woes are far and away less, right now, than those of the high school.
In general, however, we are becoming more and more disappointed (perhaps disillusioned?) with the turn our school is taking, so far as quality is concerned. What we had been told, and what we read last year about AIS, promised a school that was intent on maintaining high standards of excellence in education. We are finding the elementary school to be providing just that. Yet, we are also recognizing that the administration is backing the students (not the teachers), and this is creating MUCH anxiety. A number of our friends and colleagues are being treated badly by students, parents and administration -- making us ever watchful and wary of having "our turn." Two of our best friends will not return to finish their two-year contract, and a countless number of others are contemplating the same. Additionally, as the end of the year approaches, the students are less and less concerned with their behavior or their grades. Now, we all know that students will be students and want to skip out on as much work as possible; kids are like that everywhere. But there doesn't seem to be any lasting consequence if they make that choice. Certain problem children are rarely chastened, put on probation, or (as a last resort) removed, because the school still wants their parents' money. We are trying hard to keep a good attitude and make it through the rest of the year. Everyone says we will have an easier time next year. We certainly hope so.
We had about a week of spring here two weeks ago. Last week was between 95-104 degrees for the high! Luckily our air-conditioning works in our classrooms and at home. Nigel seems to like the heat, so we're not worried about him. If only we could wear shorts and sleeveless shirts. We do in the apartment, but can't out in public, unless we want to be stared at. Another nice thing about our move to Maadi next year, is that these items of clothing are much more acceptable. This week was much more balmy (still hot), with cool breezes and the smells of a polluted spring drifting just enough to tickle the brain.
April 16th, a famous Egyptian pop start, Mustafa Amr, came to sing for the school. While you may NEVER have heard of (or will hear) his music, his songs can be heard in almost every taxi cab in Egypt. He is probably the Cairo equivalent of Ricky Martin without the sex appeal. The kids went crazy! And all of the sixth graders got up to dance in the back -- led by one of the sixth grade teachers. They asked all of their teachers (including Barbara) to dance with them. It was very fun. The performance had been well-planned, and there wasn't a mob of parents trying to get pictures with him and their kids, like last year. The teachers tried to keep it secret this year to prevent that from happening. He performed again for the high school the next day. Interestingly enough, the kids at AIS like American popular music just about as much as those in the States, if not more so -- even going so far as liking the same groups (Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, Ricky Martin, countless Rap artists, etc.).
The big event for this week (and the primary reason for the delayed Chronicle) was the fifth-grade musical "Bugz!" Barbara was lucky, because the person "in charge" of the show was another teacher, Ms. Andrea MacDonald, and not her! Barbara handled musical direction and choreography. There are 90 kids in fifth grade, and if you don't remember from previous discussions, these guys are the wildest bunch in the elementary. (A note to Degan & Ponder teachers: They are wilder than any kids we've ever had to teach at Degan or Ponder!) But they do love to sing and perform! Every student was some type of bug or insect or some such. The plot revolved around a picnic everyone is preparing to invade (Army Ants in the lead of course). A lowly stink bug, the bane of the insect world, tries to join the festivities and is shunned by one and all. Mr. Howard Rose's class painted an incredibly HUGE backdrop (at least 50 feet tall!). We rented Bedouin tent fabric to cover the ceiling and sides. The acoustics are NOT good in the auditorium AT ALL under normal conditions, but the fabric helped cut the reverberations of sound and send the sound out instead of up. We hope to have a homemade acoustic shell (similar to the white kind you see behind singers at concerts) built for next year.
NIGEL'S SUPPLEMENT (as dictated to Todd & Barbara):
When Todd & Barbara left me all alone during Spring Break, I did what I usually do and pined away. Luckily they sent me a wonderful and kind woman to take care of me -- Valerie Pike. She fed me, scratched me, petted me, and made my life comfortable. Our wonderful cleaner, Hufaz, came and changed my box and was kind (as always) to me. I missed my parents, though. So, you can imagine my reaction to their coming back. I turned my purring on so loud that my parents HAD to love on me and pet me. After they came back, and went back to school, they told me about a cat they'd seen while waiting for the school bus. It was an orange tabby, that was younger than I was (and still had it's claws). It was trying to cross a small street. But each time it tried, a car would whoosh past, and frighten the young thing to cower under a parked car. It eventually gave up, and decided to do what all cats LOVE, and that is ..... climb a tree! This tree was one that didn't have the benefit of leaves. Young as it was, though, this didn't matter. It climbed up into the top branches and rested itself for about a minute, swishing his tail in comfort. After a few minutes, he must have gotten bored, because he tried to run along the branches in a playful way. He slipped a time or two, but his claws kept him from falling. This slipping must have scared the poor thing, because it was then that he started to look for an escape route. He knew he couldn't just jump down. To do so would have meant certain pain. Instead, he cautiously crept down the thin trunk of the tree only to slip onto a lower branch. He painstakingly sidled up to the intersection of branch and trunk and tried again, this time being even more cautious. It was in vain, however, because he once again lost his footing and slid to an even lower branch. By this time, frustration was on the cat's face, and a desperation to get off the tree was evident in the twitching of his tail. He tried to navigate the trunk again, only to sip and slide to the lowest branch, nearly falling off the tree entirely. After a moment's pause, the cat stretched itself as far down as it could, before bounding down and off the trunk to safety. The cat stood on the pavement, breathless, and looked intently from trunk to tree top before glowering at it. In a fit of rage, the cat meowed as if to say, "You stupid tree! Why didn't you let me climb down!" and walked off in a huff!
Back to Todd and Barbara:
We only have 30 more school days to go, and we're getting excited about returning home for a little while. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Todd and Barbara
