Engaging does change kids

Brian Gannon

Piet brought home an assignment from school – to make a model of a robot. This was not his best thing. He lacked confidence, felt very inferior, was clumsy and not very good with his hands. On top of that he had always been a suspicious and fearful child, trusting none of the staff whom he considered little more than aliens.

He nevertheless brought the problem to Matthew, his child care worker. Matthew helped him to sort out his plan for building the robot – but added: “Come along and show me when you get it started.”

Piet did bring it along. Matthew said he thought it was coming along OK. “Go through and show your progress to Mrs Meintjies in the kitchen as well.”

Paula Meintjies was impressed. “That is coming along nicely,” she said. “Come and show me when you get further with it. I’d like to see it.”

Two or three days later, Piet came back to Matthew who made one or two suggestions. Of his own accord, Piet then went through to Paula Meintjies in the kitchen. “Wow, that is good progress! What colours are you going to paint it?” Piet told her of his planned colours. Paula also asked whether he would give the robot a name, and they both laughed.

“Come back and show me – but also go to Mr Simons, the principal, and show him what you’re doing,” suggested Paula. “I’m sure he’d like to see.”

Piet hadn’t really had much to do with Mr Simons. In fact, he’d made a point of staying out of the principal’s way. But he went to the office and knocked on the door.

“Come, come!” shouted Mr Simons. “Who is that? Come and talk to me.”

Piet was quite relieved by this reception. He came in with his half-built robot.

"Mrs Meintjies said I must bring this to show you,” he began. It’s a project I have to do for school. Matthew has also been helping me with it, and I’m thinking of painting it grey, and blue over here.”

A slight pause as Mr Simons appraised the progress.

"And don’t worry,” went on Piet. “When I have done some more work on it, I'll bring it here again to show you!”