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.
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?
Have you any idea why this reply from you turned up, again and so repetitively, in this thread? Did it land in your inbox moments after after you and I in our turn responded?
Not perturbed, just curious. Is Substack on the front foot in supporting its Substacking Authors or their Subscribing/Non-Subscribing engaged and participant readers?
Mmm... I'm confirmed sure you didn't send twice, so obviously just another inexplicable passing Substack quirk... as said just curiosity on my part, now satisfied... as I continue to look forward to and enjoy your weekly 100*Words
We were no longer living in Swaziland but in South Africa–that is the new SA with Mandela as president. The convention looked at algorithmic math methods: if this, then that. A lot of folk strategies. I remember particularly an Egyptian form of division that involved computing on a grid. I wish I could remember more about the presentations, particularly that last one. Nila and I used to do division problems using the Egyptian method, thinking we might catch a mistake. But we never did.
I loved reading this - and then dropped into the description of the game played by the herd boys - "every day all day all year long" . Those tall beings in the photo - good at counting ! ;Thank you for telling these rich moments of life.
Wow, this is super interesting Rebecca! I love how you were able to give a brief history lesson just from one picture! That’s super interesting that they could count the animals so fast. It also speaks to the importance of livestock in various countries in Africa and how it affects their way of life and culture.💪💪💪
Hello Khadejah with the beautiful name! I’m glad you found the post interesting. If you go to the archive there are at least ten posts about Swaziland just before this one. I post one 100-word (not 99, not 101) story every Thursday. Please stay tuned. I appreciate your comment.
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?
RE, you blow my mind. Do I have your permission to share this in Chat?
Hi, again, from me Rebecca.
Have you any idea why this reply from you turned up, again and so repetitively, in this thread? Did it land in your inbox moments after after you and I in our turn responded?
Not perturbed, just curious. Is Substack on the front foot in supporting its Substacking Authors or their Subscribing/Non-Subscribing engaged and participant readers?
Honestly, I am not sure what you are talking about, but I never sent anything twice. I only tune into Substack on Wednesday PM
Mmm... I'm confirmed sure you didn't send twice, so obviously just another inexplicable passing Substack quirk... as said just curiosity on my part, now satisfied... as I continue to look forward to and enjoy your weekly 100*Words
Yes Rebecca, share as you please.
Tell us more about the Pan-African Constructivists Mathematics Convention , please...
We were no longer living in Swaziland but in South Africa–that is the new SA with Mandela as president. The convention looked at algorithmic math methods: if this, then that. A lot of folk strategies. I remember particularly an Egyptian form of division that involved computing on a grid. I wish I could remember more about the presentations, particularly that last one. Nila and I used to do division problems using the Egyptian method, thinking we might catch a mistake. But we never did.
Email says my comment didn't go through? Anyway, glad to be receiving them again. Keep up the good work!
Thnx. Did you find the Cannibal post? If not hit the brown 100 Words bar, go to Archives, and scroll down a few weeks.
Yes I did. Thanks.
Glad to be receiving these again!
And back to you. I cannot remember the one you missed. Cannibal, maybe?
Fascinating and enlightening.
And to see them, sitting with children half their age (and height), learning the A of ABCs.
I loved reading this - and then dropped into the description of the game played by the herd boys - "every day all day all year long" . Those tall beings in the photo - good at counting ! ;Thank you for telling these rich moments of life.
My pleasure, BB. It’s been great revisiting what was a really special time.
Their life had been so isolated. You can hardly imagine the shyness of the herd boys—exacerbated, no doubt, by a white lady in their bush schoolroom.
Ngiyabonga to you for these evocative posts
And ngiyabonga to you for your excellent attention!
Wow, this is super interesting Rebecca! I love how you were able to give a brief history lesson just from one picture! That’s super interesting that they could count the animals so fast. It also speaks to the importance of livestock in various countries in Africa and how it affects their way of life and culture.💪💪💪
Hello Khadejah with the beautiful name! I’m glad you found the post interesting. If you go to the archive there are at least ten posts about Swaziland just before this one. I post one 100-word (not 99, not 101) story every Thursday. Please stay tuned. I appreciate your comment.