A Week at the Irente Rainbow School

Abstract

In this chapter, readers are taken through a week in the life of the Irente Rainbow School, following teachers and students through their daily activities from arrival to dismissal. Mornings are predominately spent learning academic lessons, while afternoons are mostly spent in vocational and life-skills classes. The school takes a break for tea in midmorning in accordance with Tanzanian cultural norms, and it serves lunch to all present around noon. Students learn to care for their school and support each other in academic and vocational work. During academic lessons, they learn about math, literacy, and science; during vocational lessons, they learn about gardening, carpentry, visiting, cleaning, and sports. They study art, music, and games every week.