Wednesday in Paradise

August 6, 2008 — air fiji, endangered animals, endangered species, european union, global classrooms for peace, holy cross, maravu, meke, moms, naweni, parent day, sarongs, savusavu, south pacific, Taveuni, teachers, U. N., vanua levu, volunteer teaching, volunteering, wairiki, working moms, working vacations

Endangered Fijian Specis

I start my workday with a staff meeting. My principal, Mr Beniamino Tawake is giving directions to the teachers on getting ready for a visit from the EU Ambassador, and for Parent Day this Friday. I feel like a real teacher here, if just for a short time.

I meet with the Social Science Chair, Mr Lal. He has looked over the lesson plan book I left with him Tuesday, and he suggests that I do some of the environmental lessons today. Great, it’s just what I have in mind.

I read laminated articles on Fijian endangered species, then pass them out along with pencils, sharpeners, and boxes of colored markers for the kids to make informational posters with their own drawings of the animals. Some of the kids are snickering over one of the articles. It’s the one of the Monkey-Faced Bat. “We eat those,” they explain.

They feverishly set to work. The rulers come out. “Is this correct?” asks one girl, pointing to her sketch of the Red-Throated Lorikeet. “Do I need to include the rock?”

“It’s perfect,” I tell her. And it really is.

I make sure they are reading the articles and including the information on their posters.

They are all very concerned with their renditions, so they work like little engineers.

The posters are marvelous, and I am overwhelmed by their humility.

Any of these could become travel brochures. I am very proud of my kids!

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