FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

The English Department is a happy place. Reading beautiful literature does have this effect on one.

that weave together themes of power, oppression, freedom and belonging. At the beginning of 2024 we introduced an A Block tutorial lesson called The Edge, in which we hoped to do just that – give the boys “the edge”. This idea – to stretch the boys – will, we hope, gain traction and help us achieve our department aim. Our C Block module choice continues, allowing the D Block boys to choose what they study in C Block. They are: “Worlds Apart” (featuring The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald and the film 1917), “Murder Mystery” ( Lightseekers by Femi Kayode and the film Murder on the Orient Express ) or “Life is Sport” ( Flat Water Tuesday by Ron Irwin and the film Beyond the River ). These personalized modules, incorporating novels, films and poetry, reinforce the notion that academic performance often improves when students have some autonomy in shaping their studies. The English Department strives to instil a love for reading while guiding our boys to write – and to speak – correctly, accurately, logically and with sophistication. We also use beautiful literature that provides insight into the human condition while we do so. As I come to the end of my tenure as head of department, I am grateful for the opportunity and am honoured to have led this team. The Michaelhouse English Department is a thriving place, full of energy and passion. My heart rate was off the charts when Mr Strudwick’s, “Damian is here to announce the cross-country results” was met with thunderous applause. I tried my best to steady my breathing but my excitement was insatiable: the violent grip of fear and resentment that this environment once held over me turned into a tight embrace of love and acceptance. I was self-conscious of every step I took as I marched towards my station beside the towering figure of Mr Strudwick. Once I was standing behind the lectern, a heavy silence blanketed the theatre: the sound of anticipation. I lifted my gaze to scan the theatre, tickling my teachers’ and peers’ desire for entertainment. “Last week, I said that we would run for the badge… We ran… for the badge!” The theatre erupted into an atmosphere comparable to a football stadium, followed by a shockwave of goosebumps that stung me from head to toe. I felt like Alexander the Great as I preached to the sea of friends, peers, and teachers, whose dimly lit smiles welcomed me like family. On conclusion of my announcement, I decided to pull off one final act of showmanship to entertain the masses: “We are going to do a ‘2, 3, house’ on me. Let’s make it loud, oues.” That day, I heard the loudest “HOUSE!” since our 100th win over Hilton. The boy who walked on stage differed from the man who walked off. The impact that this moment had on me as a person was extremely significant and I would not change any detail. It was perfect. Before walking onto that stage, I still had scars within me reminiscent of the fearful and resentful E Block boy whose heart was battered and bruised by misguided boys who took pleasure in my suffering. The matrics of 2020 were ruthless and did not hold back when it came to singling me 70 THE BUTTERFLY’S EMERGENCE Damian Watson (A Block)

A SUMMATION OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE 2023 IEB ENGLISH EXAMINATIONS IS AS FOLLOWS: YEAR NO. AVE A B C D E % A, B, C 2023 118 70% 15 51 44 4 0 93% 2022 116 68% 15 31 60 8 2 91% 2021 110 74% 29 46 30 5 0 95,5% David du Toit, Andrew Woodland and Thomas Lahaye were the top Michaelhouse achievers with 90%, 86% and 85%, respectively. English Home Language continues to be, statistically, one of the most difficult subjects in which to get an A, with only 17% of all IEB candidates who wrote the 2023 examination achieving this target. Our department aim remains: to convert more Bs into As, and Cs into Bs. Further Studies English is recommended as an optional extra to boys with a passion for English, especially literature. The IEB syllabus offers them a chance to grapple with complex poetry, prose and drama/film, facilitating a nuanced response to literature within a comprehensive context. THE 2023 RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: YEAR NO. AVE A B C D E % A, B, C 100% David du Toit also topped the ranks in Further Studies English, with an impressive 80% and, while we are proud of all boys who accept the challenge of Further Studies English, the following boys are worth a mention: Aeden Turner (77%), Samir Dookie (73%) and Muako Maepa (73%). Our average of 74% outperformed the IEB average of 64%, and this is testament to the staff and boys who use the few timetabled lessons to good effect. Another enrichment opportunity comes in the form of the English Olympiad. Sixteen boys wrote the Olympiad, with Kutlwano Molokwe and Brent Tayengwa being our noteworthy participants, earning a silver for their efforts. This is a demanding self-study programme culminating in an open book examination at the beginning of March. The A Block set works are dictated to us by the IEB. 2024 welcomed a change from The Tempest to Othello – an intriguing play of love, jealousy and betrayal. The A Block travelled to Hilton College to watch the play, reinforcing their understanding of the plot and their appreciation of the intricate relationships. The novel choices were the same, being Margret Attwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and The Theory of Flight by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu. Both novels are compelling stories 2023 5 74% 1 3 1 0 0 100% 2022 7 72% 1 3 3 0 0 100% 2021 7 71% 1 3 3 0 0