Figure 1.--Here we see children at the Goudkop Primary School lining up at the begiining of the school day. The image is undated, but look like the 1960s. |
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Many South African children walk to school. This was not possible in rural areas because of the distances involved. Thus we see schools buses brining the children to school. We are not sure hen the first school busses operated, but we note them as early as the 1920s. Children attending private schools were more likely to be driven to school as they were less likely to live within walking distances of the school. Some private schools had their own school buses. We see the children lining up at the begging of the school day. Uniform conventions vary from school to school. At some schools boys would come to schools in their blazers and ties. At other schools we notice the children coming to school in much more basic uniforms. We note boys wearing grey open-neck shirts and grey short pants. These are the same clothes that the children would wear during the school day. Some images show most of the children barefoot, but this appears somewhat less common in the 2000s. These basic uniforms may have been more common in the more rural schools.
Many South African children walk to school. Some parents may accompany the younger children, especialy if they do not have older siblings at school to help. This was and continues to be the case for primary schools as the children at least in cities usually live near to their schools. Primary schools tend to be relatively small and thus have very local catchment areas. This was less true for secondary schools and private schools where is is often too far to walk. Many primary schools organize school saftey patrols where the older children are trained to help the younger children cross the streets at intersections. Schools also have lolipop ladies at major interesections. The ladies often develop close relationships with the children who they see every day.
This was not possible in rural areas because of the distances involved. If the farms were particuklarly isolated, the children might have to be sent to boarding schools. Improivements in roads and transport meant that rural children could be brought more easily transported to school and thus still live at home. Thus we see schools buses brining the children to school. We are not sure hen the first school busses operated, but we note them as early as the 1920s. They were for the most part only for white children. Some private schools had their own school buses.
Children attending private schools were more likely to be driven to school as they were less likely to live within walking distances of the school.
We see the children lining up at the begging of the school day. Uniform conventions vary from school to school. At some schools boys would come to schools in their blazers and ties. At other schools we notice the children coming to school in much more basic uniforms. We note boys wearing grey open-neck shirts and grey short pants. These are the same clothes that the children would wear during the school day. Some images show most of the children barefoot, but this appears somewhat less common in the 2000s. These basic uniforms may have been more common in the more rural schools.
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