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Students Explore Education Policy in South Africa Both courses were open to non-majors, and Sarah McNutt ’10, a politics and French major, was thrilled to have the opportunity to study abroad and learn about public policy. “We had so many wonderful and eye-opening experiences in South Africa and Namibia; I cannot even begin to express how much I learned. To have an opportunity like this was really a once in a lifetime chance” remarked McNutt. “To be able to interact with students and teachers dealing with policy implementation was a completely different experience than reading about policy development in a textbook.” Emma Reicks ’09 took advantage of the education course because it provided the opportunity to explore African culture and history and examine Students in Luck’s class also had the opportunity to stay with a family in Windhoek for a few nights. “It was an incredibly eye-opening experience to be welcomed into a new home and family in a completely different culture. My homestay had several children, some of whom were close to my age. I found it very interesting to talk to the teenagers in my host family about their daily lives” said McNutt. All agreed that the course would not have been as effective if taught in a traditional classroom setting. “It is easy to memorize the statistics in a classroom in Mt. Vernon, but to be face-to-face with children, teachers, and parents who are struggling because of these policies really has the power to change your perception of the problem” said McNutt. “It was a fantastic experience” said Luck, “my students were wonderful.” After receiving a refund for a portion of the trip’s expensive, most of her students generously donated the money to organizations they visited. For information on upcoming off-campus courses, contact the Office of International and Off-Campus Studies.
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Article by Laura Obrycki |
During second block last fall, Professor Gayle Luck had the opportunity to take seven students to southern Africa for the education course Policy to Practice: Comparative Educational Systems, the United States and southern Africa. The group traveled with Professor Shannon Reed’s 11 person English course, Advanced Topic: Southern African Art, Literature, and Culture in Context. The group spent 17 days traveling to several locations throughout Africa, visiting a variety of sites including churches, schools, museums, and universities. 
educational policies. “My most memorable experience was traveling to Bright Hill Kindergarten in the shantytowns of Windhoek, Namibia. The children were so loving and happy to see us, despite the dire poverty in which they lived” said Reicks. Reicks echoed McNutt’s thoughts about the impact of seeing firsthand the living conditions and affect of racial and economic disenfranchisement. “Reading about the history of southern Africa and the current state of the political and educational systems cannot adequately demonstrate the stark contrasts that exist between what is written in policy and practiced in communities” said Reicks. 
For Lauren Wuchte ’10 the trip provided many memorable experiences, including driving through Etosha National Park, visiting the Bright Hill Kindergarten, and meeting with the Young Achievers, a group of students determined to overcome the obstacles in their lives. “It was so important to actually see the policies in action. The ways their policies are enacted are completely different from what they say on paper. If we just read what was said it would appear they have a very progressive system, but really their education system is riddled with problems” said Wuchte.