Herd Boys
In the school photograph, the girls stand shoulder-to shoulder alongside the boys who stand shoulder-to-shoulder—all, that is, except for the three who tower over their schoolmates and sometimes, even, the teacher. They were once herd boys, entrusted from a young age to guard the grazing cattle that was their Swazi family’s wealth. Only the luckiest were eventually brought down from the hills to attend school and begin learning their abc’s alongside the youngest children. Yet, their uncanny ability to accurately count sheep, goats and cows at a glance had the attention of all at the Pan-African Constructivist Mathematics Convention. (100)
4 sentences. Of 33, 21, 22 and 24 words respectively. Grand totalling to 100 words.
1st sentence, in 33 words imparts, in 3 steps, at least 3 insights relating to the typical size and cast of characters of a Swazi school class, circa 1990. An engaging beginning.
2nd & 3rd sentences, sub-totalling to 43 words, explain the exceptional salience of the towering tall three, lucky to be late starters in school learning. An informative middle.
4th sentence, in 24 words packs three surprising punch points (i) counting holistically, 'at a glance' (ii) a vital life capability, learned not inside a class but outdoors herding (iii) potential for Swazi herding culture's custom and practice to widen ideas about teaching and learning mathematics way beyond its borders. A satisfying ending.
A clear - to me, in my reading - arc of story, structured in three acts in just 100 words?
Tell us more about the Pan-African Constructivists Mathematics Convention , please...