A retired teacher passes on her skills to Sierra Leone. And learns a lot herself...

"What were those crazy Brits doing?

We had just led year three of Modern Primary School outside and sat them underneath the shade of a tree. There we sang songs and I told them a story. The children, of course, lapped it up. The idea that boring old ‘school’ could be like this was completely new. I wonder how I would have reacted if a visiting teacher had walked into my class and declared to the children: ‘OK: we’re off to Alton Towers.’

I need not have worried; as soon as we had finished one of the teachers rushed up to me and asked ‘should I do this every day with my class?’

I first went to Sierra Leone in 2008. I was shocked by what I saw in the schools. The classrooms were dilapidated and there was not a single picture on the walls. Children sat in rows repeating facts and figures parrot fashion. In spite of their teachers’ best efforts, many of these children were barely learning, let alone enjoying the experience.

The teachers were hugely under resourced - many of them coming to work hungry themselves. Most of them had not had any proper training, and they were teaching classes of up to 80 children!

And so, one year later, I returned on the first Mission Direct Teaching Team. We came armed with pencils, crayons, puzzles and books. But mostly we came to share our own insights about effective teaching, and to learn from their passionate commitment and humility.

The children could tell us that four times two equals eight. But I am not sure that they understood what this had to do with their everyday lives?

We sat the children down in groups with a small pile of bottle tops. Two piles of four tops – how many was that? Was it the same as four piles of two? This was revolutionary stuff for teachers who had inherited a method of teaching that was nearly a century old.

The kids painted pictures wrote stories and poems. They were such a delight to teach: well behaved, attentive, and - when they realised they were allowed to be - full of life, energy and creativity.

This was one of the most satisfying experiences I have had in my 40 years of teaching. Our small team gave 100%, but we all felt like we had received 120% back! The children’s desire to learn would have put most of my old classes to shame. And the dedication and willingness of the teachers to learn was inspirational.

The greatest joy of all comes from thinking about my new teacher friends in Sierra Leone, sitting their classes down under a shady tree for a story and a song."

Marie Hogg