In 1854 Charles Dickens wrote in that delightful novel Hard Times, “Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them.” Report by Our Correspondent
The pupils are described by their teacher Gradgrind as “little vessels… ready to have imperial gallons of facts poured into them until they were full to the brim” and “little pitchers… to be filled so full of facts”.
The Dominican Convent School opened its doors to these “vessels” and “pitchers” 38 years later, in 1892, but, fortunately, the education offered was more than mere factual learning! From the onset, Christian values were instilled in the pupils to prepare them as morally upright people. This is true even today, when the challenges to Christianity are increasing, with so many conflicting influences bearing down on the modern youth. As one of the teachers feels, “The Convent is special in a unique way because it prides itself on teaching Christian values which are often overlooked in the world today.”
Another teacher describes the school as a “caring” one, “which tries to be sensitive to the individual needs of staff and pupils. Its ethos and emphasis on Christian values sets it apart and helps to make it a happy place in which to work.”
One teacher says about the school community, “It is a family — albeit a very large one! — where we care for each other and want the best for each other, where members of staff work to their strengths and use their individual talents so we all work as a team. We recognise and appreciate each other’s differences to create tolerance and harmony. To start each day with a prayer and a hymn is a constant and wonderful reminder that we are a family grounded in Christian faith.”
The composition of the staff has changed tremendously in the 120 years of the school’s existence, but the ethos has remained unchanged. “Although there are fewer Sisters teaching in the school, their influence and aims for “Dominican Education” still permeate the school and are followed by the lay staff in their teaching. There is a sense of tradition with a very low turnover of staff. Many of the teachers have been at the school for a long time. Some students have returned to teach here, so there is a sense of continuity.”
It is evident that the teachers have a very strong sense of history and tradition, remembering the Dominican Sisters who established the school. It is with pride that the current teachers sing, “I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me, I am stronger for their courage, I am wiser for their words, I am lifted by their longing for a fair and brighter future.”
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Talking about the teachers who have taught at the school for a very long period, one member of that species writes, “I have taught at this school for 25 years, and it is my second home! I love seeing the transformation of my pupils from shy or brash, uncertain or arrogant, mischievous or just typically lively teenagers into confident competent young ladies, able to hold their own anywhere in the world. Teaching is a rewarding profession and even the long hours of marking can be enjoyable when the students show signs of progress. To start each day with a prayer and a hymn is a constant and wonderful reminder that we are firmly grounded in our Christian faith.”
It is a source of pride that many of our “Old Girls” come back to their alma mater, not only to teach, but also as the school of choice for their daughters. Thus, the tradition of the Convent is carried through the generations. Here is what some of these teachers had to say:
“As a parent, I had a daughter who did well at this school. As a teacher, I find the school so organised that I always work to the best of my ability, deriving the job satisfaction I had not experienced in my previous job.”
“As a parent and now as a current member of the staff, I see a strong work ethic and healthy relations among all the teachers.”
“The Dominican Convent may be the oldest school in Harare, but it is so much more than just a school. It is a training ground, a second home, and a sanctuary. As an ex-Head Girl and currently a member of the teaching staff, some may call me blessed; but having been on both sides of the desk, I can say in all sincerity that the values that the Convent instils in the young girls are timeless. The Convent is well-known for its outstanding academic record and all Convent ladies — past and present — stand out for their honesty, their manners and their standards of excellence. Convent provides more than just a good education — I believe we teach our girls wisdom as well as knowledge, thinking skills to question, empathy for others and respect and pride in themselves and their communities. I consider it a privilege to serve the school that shaped me into the person I am.”
I am reminded here of GK Chesterton who offered this definition: “Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.” WB Yeats says education is “not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” — and it is this that the teachers strive to do at the Dominican Convent High School.
