Minutes of the South African Society for History Teaching's AGM

 

 

Annual General Meeting

Erinvale Estate Hotel Somerset West 4 October 2012

 

1. Welcome

Prof Elize van Eeden welcomes all and thanked the University of Stellenbosch as host of the conference for their warm hospitality and for a very well organised conference. Prof Arend Carl in particular is thanked for taking the lead amidst a heavy workload and also having managed to get sponsorship for the SASHT dinner.

 

2. Chairperson Report (E v Eeden)

Prof Van Eeden welcomed all and thanked Dr Susan Bester as new SASHT secretary for her support and hard work during the past few months. As the time is limited the following important matters are concisely reported on and discussed:

2.1. SASHTExecutive-DBE feedback

Prof van Eeden points out that the SASHT in 2011 have received some complaints regarding the CAPS document process for History and queries about the 2011 Grade 10 textbook process by the Dept of Basic Education (DBE). These caused wide dissatisfaction. After the AGM of the SASHT in 2011 the SASHT Executive received a mandate by its members to follow up matters of concern with the DBE. This was done during January to March 2012. The outcome was communicated (see Annexure A for the E van Eeden and M Maposa reports on the visit to the DBE in May 2012). At present some academia as members of the SASHT scientifically follow up the efficiency of the 2011-process by means of certain research procedures. These will be reported on in the 2013 Conference and via the Yesterday & Today Journal.

2.2 Yesterday& Today status

Dr Warnich mentioned that the journal has received accreditation and that Prof Elize van Eeden's pivotal role should be applauded. Prof Van Eeden thank Dr Warnich and reported that two issues of the Y&T will appear per annum in July and in December. The AGM was informed that the following people were approached to serve on the Y&T editorial committee, and which all accepted:

Dr Helen Ludlow (School of Education, Wits);

Mr Gengs Pillay (Dept of Education, KZN);

Ms Rika Odendaal-Kroon (Rand Girls' School, Gauteng);

Ms Henriette Lubbe (History, Unisa);

It is noted that the following people resigned or who's term has expired:

Mr Jimmy Verner;

Ms Portia January.

The quality control institution Assaf supported the Y&T in 2011 and in 2012 to produce two issues of the Journal. The NWU supported one issue with the directive to start requesting for page fees from July 2012 onwards to be independent. A page fee of R200-R250 per page for scientific articles (and not Hands-on articles) will be reimbursed from authors of articles. GET and FET educators are encouraged to write "hands-on" articles. Book reviews also are important and Prof Van Eeden urges all to inform Prof Wassermann as book review editor if any new books must be obtained to be reviewed. They should also support engaging as reviewers for the book review team in helping with book reviews. Also when member obtained a new book he/she can consider writing a book review. It is not only members on the book review committee who should and could write book reviews.

2.3 Membership

An expansion of the membership and adhering to marketing needs were discussed. Some ideas were proposed which will be deliberated by the SASHT executive:

• Changing the minds of History educators to be investors and not only receivers;

• Development of a popular online e-journal for local History will be invested in 2013;

• Producing a DVD on the significance of History as discipline will be kept in mind and activated as soon as funding becomes available.

2.4 Vision for projects 2013

Prof van Eeden mentions that the marketing of History within the SASHT structures still requires some extensive thinking. With sufficient funding support will be possible to partially financing educators wanting to continue studies; supporting regional workshops more substantially; Engaging with GET; FET and HET Educators to become members of the SASHT and; to conducting a report on the status of History in South Africa, last done in 1992). These aims will remain on the AGM-agenda to pursue.

 

3. 2013 Conference

Mr Matthew Marwick announced that the Maritzburg College, will host the 2013 conference. The School will celebrate its 150 anniversary. Opportunities to discuss History; Twitter and Facebook will be considered as communication possibilities and perhaps added to the theme of the 2013 conference. A flyer was distributed (See see Annexure B).

 

4. Other SASHT hosts for future conferences

The following possibilities are confirmed/discussed. It was confirmed that Prof Van Eeden and Ms Lubbe will communicate with the different hosts during 2013 to ensure confirmation:

2014: University of the Witwatersrand (Dr. H Ludlow)

2015: Free State University (Dr Boitumelo Moreeng?)

2016: Oprah Winfrey leadership Academy (Mr Thomas Tervitt?)

2017: International Conference ISHD-SASHT NWU-Potchefstroom Campus (Dr. Pieter Warnich)

2018: Limpopo Province (Mr Jake Manenzhe?)

 

5. Vice-Chairperson's report on regional activities (H Lubbe)

Dr Henriette Lubbe reported (See Annexure C). She also mentioned that there is no representative in the Northern Cape and in Mpumalanga and that the Executive should keep their ears and eyes on the ground to identify suitable and passionate practitioners.

 

6. Showcasing the website (P McMahon & P Haupt)

http://www.sashtw.org.za/

Patrick McMahon and Paul Haupt discussed the new interactive SASHT website. Links, amongst others for report Newsletters, Membership application. Archival info of previous conferences, reports and older versions of the Yesterday & Today journals were scanned at a cost and added onto the website. Only issue 6 seems to be missing, and will be added soon. The idea to organise a mini quiz and Olympiad will be re-opened as possibility as soon as the website portfolio members find their way to be fully operational within the new service provider domain.

 

7. SASHT Financial report

Prof Van Eeden reports on behalf of Mr Verner who was not able to attend and he also indicated that he is not available for another term. The SASHT's financial status on 1 October 2012 was R54 604.39, with some payments still outstanding. Mr Verner envisaged a remainder balance of approximately R27 600.00 after deducting conference obligations. Prof Van Eeden thanked Mr Verner for having fulfilled an excellent function as treasurer. His absence as long-standing member and builder of the SASHT (also in his previous capacity as SASHT Chair) will in future be felt.

Prof van Eeden also informs the AGM that the SASHT Executive has changed some articles in the SASHT constitution with regards to the finances to ensure a more consultative and democratic process. The AGM take note of the following phrase that replaces the older constitutional version:

5.5 Finances

5.5.1 All the income of the Society shall be deposited in an account at a bank and/or other approved financial institution. One to three members, consisting of either the chairperson, the vice-chairperson and/or the treasurer/ or secretary-treasurer, shall be empowered to withdraw and deposit funds for the use of/on behalf of the Society.

5.5.2 Any amount that must be withdrawn, and exceeds the amount of R3 000 should beforehand be properly communicated among the two-three empowered Executive members (namely the chairperson, the vice chairperson and the treasurer). All these aforesaid empowered executive members should be able to exercise their signing right (to withdraw and deposit funds) on behalf of the SASHT in the absence of the treasurer as the current overseer of the account, but with the consent of the core SASHT Executive.

 

8. Election of nominated members

Prof Van Eeden proposes a new arrangement based on the revised SASHT constitution to ensure a procedure that is in line with other History Societies in South Africa:

8.1 A process of nomination and election becomes necessary if Executive Committee members have served a three-year term. Both new nominees and retiring committee members are eligible for re-election via e-mail one month prior to the annual SASHT conference. The secretariat manages the term of office of the SASHT Executive and sends out notifications to retiring/re-election status members (and invites new nominations, to be done formally and on the standard SASHT nomination form) a week prior to the SASHT conference. The list of new nominations//re-electable Executive Committee members will be formally dealt with during the AGM.

(see Annexure D for the nomination Form)

The AGM approved of such an arrangement.

It is noted that Prof Van Eeden and Ms Lubbe also language edited the Constitution again.

 

9. Announcement of newly elected/standing members

Prof Van Eeden informs the AGM that Mr Thomas Tervitt indicated that he will no longer be available for the marketing position. A nomination was receive for Marshall Maposa which the Executive approved according to the newly advised system. Mr Maposa will remain in the position as a full member of the Executive while the Executive must consider which portfolio to allocate but to search for a candidate that can fulfil the mandate of the Marketing portfolio.

(See Annexure E for the executive and regional SASHT representatives).

 

10. General matters

Mr Simon Haw reported that an e-newsletter for 2012 was not published on the website due to several constraints. After discussion it was decided that Mr Haw will be supported by Mrs Lubbe and the Regional Representatives to ensure regular inputs to an e-Newsletter which should be distributed 2-3 times per annum from 2013. Examples of what could be send were discussed. History Olympiads, quizzes, discussions and vacancies were mentioned amongst others. The SASHT Executive is of opinion that the news letter must be a tool to make people aware of the SASHT.

 

11. Closure

Prof Van Eeden thanks the few outgoing executive members for their past loyalty and support and welcome the new executive, especially Ms Henriette Lubbe in her first year as the new vice Chairperson for the SASHT. So far she very efficiently shaped the regional structure of cooperation in the Society. Prof Van Eeden also expresses a hearty thanks to the rest of the executive for being so supporting, especially the working committee situated in who always are willing to set aside precious hours in meeting on Saturday afternoons.

 

Annexure A

(E van Eeden and M Maposa reports on the visit to the DBE in early 2012)

Report on the meeting between the SASHT delegation and the DBE officials

25/05/2012

Marshall Maposa University of KwaZulu-Natal

I attended the meeting as a member of the SASHT delegation. My understanding of the objective of the meeting was that we were meant to question the DBE on the practicalities of the screening process of the textbooks submitted for evaluation for the CAPS. We were also to find out who does the screening; to ask why they selected only four books; and find out the implications of all this for the next process in 2014. We hoped that the meeting would build bridges and come up with solutions. From our side, the proposed solution would be to put forward the name of Prof Rob Siebörger to conduct another screening process.

We appreciated the fact that after a long time of refusal to meet, the DBE had at last agreed. The meeting however did not start as we anticipated as the DBE delegates expressly refused to discuss anything to do with textbooks right from the outset. They stated that they were only interested in us bringing up other issues to do with the teaching and learning of History. Faced with this situation, we could not present our issues as planned. As a result we had to manoeuvre our way to bring in the issue of textbook screening. We had to keep doing this throughout the meeting so that we could keep to our planned issues.

When we asked about the screening process, the DBE officials responded that they had done it as fairly as they could. Our question on the lack of use of textbook research experts in the SASHT was shot down with the argument that there were many other experts who did not belong to the SASHT. They also expressed that we had wrongly come up as representatives of textbook writers, who should only raise their issues through the publishers and not SASHT. They thought that there was a conflict of interest on our part.

In the end we learned that the main people who had been used in this process were subject advisors. We were also told that only four books (instead of eight) were adopted since the teachers had complained that they would not know which textbook to rely on if many were put on the catalogue. This was in spite of our counter-argument that History learners need to be exposed to a variety of resources so that they come up with informed and diverse understandings. The DBE officials stated that unapproved textbooks could still be published and sold to the schools, but not through the department-sanctioned catalogue.

The DBE refused to consider redoing the screening process and said that we can only analyse the textbooks that have been adopted. Nevertheless they agreed to furnish us with the criteria that were used to screen the books. Concerning the other evaluations to be done later in 2012, the DBE could not promise the involvement of expertise from the SASHT. Although we tried to explain our relevance in the textbook production and screening process, the DBE officials claimed that they did not work with associations because they would not know which one to engage since they were too many. This argument was despite our explanation that we were the only association for History in South Africa. We had also explained that our voice should not be muzzled and should not be regarded as dissent, but should be celebrated as evidence of healthy and transparent involvement of various stakeholders.

Evidently we hit a brick wall as our concerns were barely considered. The positive that we can take from the meeting is that the DBE officials agreed to continue corresponding and even arranging meetings with us. They also agreed to attend the SASHT conference and answer any questions. It seems like our hope to have the textbooks re-screened have been dashed and the only chance we have is to be involved in the later processes. We did not agree with the DBE's view that we should only be concerned with the finished product as our experts on textbook research show how the process leading to the adoption of the textbook is very important.

 

Some impressions by Elize S van Eeden

As communicated per letter to the DBE on 2 May 2012

Dear Michelle

For attention Dr Joshua

As you know me and Mr Marshall Maposa (representing the SASHT) attended a discussion last week Wednesday 25 April with delegates of the DBE. I will appreciate if you could pass on my appreciation to Dr Joshua for the opportunity and the time. Though we will internally communicate our observations of this meeting with the SASHT broader Executive and the members of the Society, we will appreciate if you could pass on our positive impressions and our remarks expressing a concern to Dr (Marié-Louise?) Joshua, Dr Nduna and Mr Pule (Pardon my ignorance if these particulars are wrong but we did not get time to share this information on paper due to the time constraint some DBE delegates had).

Positively perceived impressions/discussions:

• The SASHT representatives welcome the invitation by the DBE that the SASHT and DBE should communicate more often on issues related to the education and training of History teachers;

• The SASHT welcome the information that the DBE intend forming a History Committee from which invitations to the SASHT (or individual members of the SASHT) will be directed, especially as far as it concerns issues the DBE regards as of importance;

• The SASHT representatives in turn posed an invitation to the DBE to consider sending a member or two to the SASHT conference that will take place this year in the Stellenbosch region in early October. The invitation also includes the possibility of a discussion by the DBE delegate regarding the screening of History textbooks as it was/is processed during 2011 and perhaps the Grade 11's for 2012. If the DBE is interested in attending the conference, information could be forwarded;

• The SASHT invited the DBE delegates to co-opt any SASHT member(s) when having a need for some expertise dealing with matters regarding History. It was accentuated that the focus by the SASHT never was the SASHT per se but about its members representing various FET and HET institutions, and who appears absent in processes of importance (such as textbook assessments and guidance);

• The DBE was assured by the representatives of the SASHT that the SASHT only represents its members and passionately enhances, as well as acting as watchdog for, quality, diversity and representativeness in History teaching content;

• The SASHT assured the delegates of the DBE that they do not represent particular/all publishers.

Some concerns from the discussion between the DBE and the SASHT delegates as perceived by the SASHT representatives:

• The fact that the DBE delegates did not want to talk about the complaints that the SASHT has directed to the DBE per several letters, but wanted to steer the discussion on other another pathway, was not particularly welcomed. Especially if one considers the amount of time and expenses that was incurred to be able to attend the meeting to specifically discuss the concerns that have been communicated;

• The SASHT representatives were under the impression that the actual complaints the Society have raised, namely poor textbook screening and a lack of transparency in the Grade 10-textbook screening process were to be the foci of the discussion. These shortcomings were raised per letter to the DBE several times because the SASHT felt that none of the country's specific expertise in history textbook developments were considered for neither the training nor the screening process;

• The SASHT representatives have made some effort to explain to the DBE delegates that if expertise of history textbook assessment and experts of the History CAPS doc are not part of an open and democratic screening process, then South Africa literally don't need any practitioners of History teaching anymore, neither perhaps historians, because their expertise as important voice are ignored;

• The SASHT is familiar with many historians as experts (whether they are/are not members of the SASHT) and it is categorically stated that none of them were approached for any assistance so far in the process of textbook screening which also is very much part of the history educator's concern;

• The impression by the SASHT representatives was that the DBE delegates wanted the practitioners of History (on especially HET level) to simply accept that textbook screening is "only" an assignment of the DBE, whereas criticising "accepted" published textbooks is an assignment of the history practitioners as experts. This impression is not shared by the SASHT in general, because the Society strongly feels that history practitioners for several decades have criticised the shortcomings of textbooks but these shortcomings are repeated with every new phase of curriculum and textbook development. The best phase to stop this repetitiveness is to improve on the phases of progressing towards textbook development and screening (with the aid of history educators as experts dealing with these in many HET research projects), like:

- guidance to publishers on textbook writing;

- guidance to textbook screeners;

- assistance with selecting textbooks (with the obvious accepted arrangement that no individual should be considered on a panel that has been part of writing a history textbook).

• Many unanswered questions on the 2011 history textbook screening process unfortunately remain.

The SASHT will continue to utilise the several expertise available in South Africa with regards to history textbooks to academically (and some anonymously) assess the 2011- textbook screening and textbook selection process. The need is to, independently, obtain impressions from respected members of the SASHT and from others practising History in South Africa. On behalf of the SASHT we express the hope that this arrangement (and the outcomes), will be of value to the SASHT membership, the History practitioners in general in South Africa and to the DBE.

Kindest regards Elize

 

Annexure C Sasht Regional News (2012)

During 2012 the SASHT Executive Committee made a successful effort to actively stimulate interest in History and History teaching in the various provinces of South Africa. Except for Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape, regional representatives were appointed for all the other provinces at the 2011 SASHT Conference, and the Vice-president of the SASHT was given the task to liaise with and encourage these regional representatives to organise at least one History-related regional activity in 2012. Regional representatives would also be expected to publicise the SASHT's many activities in their provinces, compile a data base of History teachers where it did not yet exist, and recruit new members for the SASHT.

Communication with regional representatives proved to be a challenge as some representatives either took very long to respond to outreach from the Vice-president or did not respond at all. Fortunately, several representatives eventually submitted reports on what they had achieved in their provinces during the year and the obstacles some of them encountered.

What follows below is a brief overview of the activities that have been taking place in the various provinces (in alphabetical order):

 

Eastern Cape

For unknown reasons no response to email messages was received from the regional representative in the Eastern Cape and no report was submitted.

 

Free State

The SASHT Regional Representative for the Free State, Dr Boitumelo Moreeng, worked very closely with the Free State Provincial Department of Education, especially in the Motheo and Xhariep Districts. This intervention included two workshops that focused on teaching methodologies and techniques. Close to 70 teachers attended the workshops.

Dr Moreeng was also involved in an intervention programme for Grade 12 History learners which focused on the development of skills such as interpretation, analysis, paragraph and essay writing. The programme, which involved 12 schools, was conducted through a collaborative effort by the University of the Free State's Faculty of Education, the Department of History, and a group of history teachers in Bloemfontein.

Furthermore, the Faculty of Education at Free State University hosted an American Fulbright scholar — a history teacher from the state of Vermont in the United States, Mr Craig Divis — from January to June 2012. During his stay in South Africa, Mr Divis conducted workshops for teachers on the effective teaching of History and made presentations on the value of History to History learners at schools in Xhariep and Motheo.

Dr Moreeng is currently working closely with the Faculty of Education's section on values in education at Free State University around the organisation and adjudication of the Nkosi Albert Luthuli Oral History competition.

Finally, he usually shares information about the SASHT with the History Subject Advisors in the Province so that they can discuss it with their teachers.

There were also activities of a different kind in other parts of the Free State. With the assistance of Subject Advisor, Cecilia Khoabane, a two-day Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Training workshop was conducted at Leseding Technical School in Welkom on 10 and 11 August 2012 by Henriette Lubbe from the Department of History at the University of South Africa (Unisa). Around 30 History educators from secondary schools in the Lejweleputswa District attended this workshop. This intervention essentially formed part of a community outreach initiative on the part of an academic historian, but also fitted into a broader research-based project on EQ training for teachers, supported by Call on the Professionals, a corporate company specialising in human dynamics and EQ training. In view of the lack of financial support for this initiative from the provincial DoE, the Municipal Manager of Welkom kindly stepped in to finance the catering, while the Unisa Short Course in School History Enrichment financed travelling costs and accommodation for the facilitators, who offered their services free of charge. This team effort was richly rewarded in terms of emotional growth on the part of the participants, and bridging the gap between academic historians and school teachers, let alone narrowing the divide between the education and corporate sectors.

Participants in the workshop had their interaction style, level of assertiveness, listening skills and listening styles assessed; participated in enjoyable pair work and group work activities; learnt about the critical importance of flexibility in all human relations (including classroom relations), and went home with practical guidelines for improving their classroom interaction with diverse learner personalities. More importantly, they left with a better understanding of their role in teaching culturally and politically sensitive historical content with the necessary sensitivity and flexibility in the modern South African classroom.

 

Gauteng

In this province, SASHT Regional Representative, Dee Gillespie, worked with NAPTOSA and presented two History Workshops which were organised by NAPTOSA's Marion Joseph. In the first workshop on 7 May 2012, entitled 'Having fun in History', Dee shared various ideas for the delivery of lessons. In the second workshop on 14 May 2012, she focused on 'Ideas to develop writing skills in History'. Unfortunately, in both cases the attendance was not good. Only 14 teachers attended the first workshop while just 8 turned up for the second. During discussions in the first workshop, it became clear that primary school teachers had no idea of what was expected in CAPS. It was also reported that many schools had stopped excursions because of the vast amount of paperwork and the risk of accidents. In the second workshop, Dee found that the teachers were very demotivated and that they tended to focus on problems rather than solutions. Once again it became apparent that CAPS training was needed.

Dee also attended the Grade 11 training offered by the Department of Education (DoE) earlier in the year but thought that the guidelines were very vague. She subsequently attended the overview national training of the DoE on behalf of NAPTOSA in June. This was a summary of how all the trainers/ GDE officials had been trained to cascade the information. She was very impressed with this session despite the senior DoE presenter's severe criticism of delegates who were perceived to be abusing the opportunity by coming late, leaving early, eating, sleeping and not actually working. She found the trainers to be well briefed, received all the training materials, and left feeling highly motivated to get started.

But the rest of the story is less positive. Dee says:

'I then went to the GDE Grade 11 training during the July holidays really excited about the fact that the information would be cascaded down... HORRORS! The official clearly had his own agenda. When I insisted he refer to the manual, he refused and did not even have a laptop for PPT. Once again training fell short and many teachers left feeling very disillusioned! Even me! I am overwhelmed at the task that needs to be done and the lack of skills to achieve the effective implementation of CAPS. People seem to be motivated to drive it into the ground before even taking off. These ANA assessments are also a huge amount of work for teachers who have their own assessment to do. Hopefully NAPTOSA will be organising more effective CAPS training. NAPTOSA is very happy to give us slots to do training for their members! Marion [Joseph] does all advertising and bookings, without receiving any payment, only personal reward.

Since July 2012, Dee has also done two camps to KwaZulu-Natal and four day excursions. She is currently planning a 10-day tour with 50 girls to Cape Town in April 2013 and a 14-day European History tour to Poland, Italy, Holland, France and Russia in 2014.

Siobhan Glanvill from Wits University has been equally active in promoting History in Gauteng. In collaboration with the Wits History Workshop, the Apartheid Museum and the South African Historical Archives, she helped organise a teachers' workshop on 'Teaching Race' at the Origins Centre at Wits on 28 July 2012. Here guest speaker, Zimitri Erasmus, held the audience spell bound with her ideas on the possibilities of a society that is not defined by race, and her information on the history of the social and political construction of the concept of race. Teachers were then given a tour of the Origins Centre and divided into smaller groups after lunch to discuss topics relevant to CAPS and the teaching of an emotive and controversial issue such as 'race', especially in Grades 9 and 11.

Although 100 educators had been expected, only 60 eventually turned up. Nevertheless, the workshop was well received and the educators left with a resource pack and lots to think about.

The Wits History Workshop also employed a student to set up a data base, but she had a very difficult task as not all the subject advisers or district officials were co-operative. This has been identified as a major challenge seeing that there is no sense in planning and organising events if the History teachers cannot be reached.

Catherine Kennedy at the South African Historical Archives is reportedly doing a fantastic job of providing worthwhile workshops based on the primary resources kept at the Archives. Siobhan strives to attend as many of these workshops as possible and also takes her students along. Perhaps the Archives could be approached to advertise the SASHT on its website.

Siobhan says she does inform teachers about the SASHT during her school visits but suggests that 4th year students should be encouraged to signed up as members and attend and present at conferences.

 

KwaZulu-Natal

SASHT Regional Representative for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Matthew Marwick, reports that a current affairs general knowledge quiz — themed 'The World We Live In' and sent out under the banner of the SASHT — was hosted by Maritzburg College on 16 August 2012. The purpose of this event was to increase the profile of the SASHT amongst leading schools in the Midlands and Coastal regions of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in the build-up to the 2013 SASHT Conference.

Maritzburg College's historic red-bricked Victoria Hall, which was used as a fever hospital by the British Army during the South African War (1899-1902), proved to be a most suitable venue, given the strong historical leaning to many of the questions covered in the quiz.

The evening's format provided for teams of four in junior and senior categories, and the topics covered were 'Current Affairs', 'Olympic Games and World Sport', 'Conflict in the Twentieth Century', '100 Years of Quotations', 'Music, Movies and TV', 'Our Province KZN', and (in honour of Women's Month) 'Identify the Famous Lady'. A total of 29 teams took part - an admirable start, perhaps, but a tally that it is hoped will increase in the years to come.

Despite the slight feminine slant to a number of the questions, it was the boys who emerged triumphant, with the all-male team from Clifton College in Durban winning the senior section, and similarly testosterone-powered teams from the host school finding themselves in second, third and fourth places. Matters of competition aside, though, the 116 boys and girls who attended the quiz certainly seemed to have a fun time trying to answer the questions, which varied from 'With what weapon would you associate the name, Brett Murray?' to 'What German attack from the final months of World War II might you also associate with weight-loss?' and 'Which lazy, wannabe billionaire, singer "would catch a grenade for you"?'!

Although teams from only five schools took part on the night, contact with many other prominent schools in KZN was made in the preceding weeks, and the seed of the SASHT was planted. Given the success of this inaugural quiz, it is anticipated that the event will become an annual one, with Maritzburg College already agreeing to host the quiz again next year, in the build-up to its hosting of the SASHT National Conference at the same venue over the Michaelmas holidays in 2013.

Post Script: For the battlers in the class, the answers to the questions mentioned in the above text are (i) Spear, (ii) Battle of the Bulge, and (iii) Bruno Mars.

 

Limpopo

SASHT regional Representative, Jake Manenzhe, reports from Limpopo Province that a History Mini-Conference on 'Managing History' was held at Capricorn High School on 10 August 2012. All the preparations and logistical arrangements for this conference were handled by an interim structure consisting of four people led by Mr Manenzhe as convener.

The expected number of participants was 60. To the organisers' surprise, 99 participants including teachers, curriculum advisors and lecturers, turned up. There were also 12 History learners from the host school who assisted in ushering but were part of the audience during presentations.

The high turn-out which exceeded all expectations, and the fact that participants stayed for the full duration of the conference which ended 30 minutes later than planned, suggest the following: keen interest in the conference among subject practitioners; a thirst for knowledge by History practitioners; a need among History practitioners to be part of associations that promote the historical discipline; and the potential present in Limpopo to revive the subject through contributions of interested structures.

Presentations were delivered according to the program. Speaking at the beginning, Jake thanked the various donors and pointed out that the conference would not have taken place had it not been for their much appreciated support. The Unisa History Department and Short Course in School History Enrichment (through Henriette Lubbe) provided folders, writing paper, SASHT marketing material and other conference paraphernalia; the SASHT made a financial contribution towards covering the cost of catering, while book publishers such as Shuter & Shooter, Heineman, Vivlia and New Generations made various donations. Macmillan and Oxford University Press also came on board on the day of the conference. Delegates were in turn encouraged to support the donors. The role of an educator as a life-long learner was explained at great length and participants were encouraged to enroll for courses at Unisa. All the details (hard copies) regarding the October 2012 SASHT Conference in the Western Cape were distributed to participants who understood the importance of networking and connections with structures that will empower them. Publishers were each given about 15 minutes to make presentations before the participants went to view the books on display.

All other presentations took place as planned except the one on the sharing of good practices by a teacher, Mr NS Makhokha, who ironically did not turn up. The audience clearly appreciated the presentations by all speakers and in their comments, indicated how much they had gained. Apart from the interim structure which organised the conference, district representatives forwarded two names each to establish a provincial structure. It was suggested that each district would have to fully constitute a district structure and organise a district advocacy so that all history teachers and interested people are involved. Once all district structures are constituted, a provincial structure will be formally constituted. In the meantime, the interim structure led by Jake Manenzhe, will continue to coordinate and convene the provincial meeting that should formally constitute the provincial structure.

 

Mpumalanga

The SASHT still needs to appoint a regional representative for Mpumalanga.

 

Northern Cape

The SASHT still needs to appoint a regional representative for the Northern Cape.

 

North West Province

SASHT Regional Representative, Dr Pieter Warnich of North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), managed to build up a data base of History teachers in the Province consisting of 60 names with telephone numbers. In many cases these teachers unfortunately do not have email addresses. Nevertheless, phone numbers will be very useful to disseminate information about SASHT and other History-related activities via SMS.

Dr Warnich also had a meeting with District chief, Dr Tex Dlamini, who promised to try and arrange funding for a History teachers' workshop in the Province when the new budget is being drawn up in March 2013.

 

Western Cape

The SASHT Regional Representative, Mr Barry Firth, mentioned his intention to organise a History Quiz in 2012 but failed to respond to email and telephonic communication during the year and did not submit feedback to the Vice-president in time for integration into this report.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the regional representatives for their initiative and hard work during 2012. You play a crucial role in inspiring and supporting History teachers in your respective provinces, promoting the SASHT at regional level, and keeping the historical discipline alive in South Africa. I look forward to coordinating the SASHT's regional activities again next year — let us work together to make 2013 even more successful!

Ms Henriette Lubbe

 

(Annexure D :Nomination form)

Nomination for election to the committee in terms of article 4 of the constitution

The SASHT is required to elect ten (10) members of the Society to serve on the SASHT Executive Committee.

According to article 4.3 of the SASHT Constitution retiring members (3-year term) are eligible for re-election if they are willing to stand.

Both those nominating and those nominated must be paid-up members of the Society.

All nominations must have a seconder.

All nomination forms must include acceptance of the nomination (usually by signature).

All nomination forms must be completed and E-mailed to the Secretariat (Dr Susan Bester at sjbdok@telkomsa.net two weeks prior to the SASHT conference. Nominees will have an opportunity to be elected at the SASHT-AGM meeting. The Secretary and Treasurer will confirm if all nominators and nominees are paid up members of the Society.

Nomination form

I, the undersigned, hereby nominate:

for election to the Executive Committee of the SASHT

Nominator Seconder

I accept this nomination:......................................(Name and signature)

Date:_

 

Annexure E: The executive and regional SASHT representatives

SASHT Executive

Prof Elize Van Eeden (Chairperson-NWU)

Mrs Henriette Lubbe (Vice-Chairperson-UNISA)

Dr Susan Bester (Secretariat-NWU)

Mr Simon Haw (Portfolio e-Newsletter - KZN)

Dr Pieter Warnich (Regional representative - North-West Province)

Mr Patrick McMahon (Portfolio Website-Crawford, Gauteng)

Mr Paul Haupt (Portfolio Website-Settlers, Western Cape)

Mr Barry Firth (Regional representative - FET Western Cape)

Ms Siobhan Glanvill (Wits, Gauteng)

Mr Jake Manenzhe (Regional Representative-Limpopo province)

Mr Matthew Marwick (Regional representative-Maritzburg, KZN)

Dr Boitumelo Moreeng (Regional representative-FSU)

Mrs Dee Gillespie (Regional representative-FET Gauteng)

Mr Marshall Maposa (Executive and regional representative-UKZN)

Ms B Feni (Regional representative-FET Eastern Cape)

Vacancies:

Treasury

Portfolio Marketing Representative GET Phase

Regional representatives for Mpumalanga and Northern Cape