69 Centenary Edition Social Sciences Geography ‘The study of Geography is more than just memorizing places on a map. It is about understanding the complexities of our world’ Former president of the USA, Barack Obama. The Geography department underwent some changes in 2021. Mr Robinson, who led the department with distinction for over 10 years, stepped down. He left the department on a high, with outstanding Grade 12 IEB geography results. The Kearsney geographers attained an average of 72%, which was 8% higher than the IEB average. We also had 14 distinctions, which was significantly higher than in previous years. Kearsney’s Grade 11s and the top Grade 12 candidates participated in the annual Geography Olympiad. The Olympiad tested real world ideas and critical thinking. Our boys fared very well, with five young men in the top 5% of pupils from around the country (gold status). A further seven finished in the top 10% and another three in the top 15%. We are very proud of the Kearsney geographers. A new and exciting aspect of the Geography curriculum is GIS (Geographical Information Systems). Various tasks were set up throughout the year in various grades to upskill our pupils with the latest technological advances in the subject. The Grade 12s had a complete their own Urban Land Zone Maps and the Grade 9s completed a Natural Disasters evacuation procedure project. COVID protocols and restrictions have made fieldwork very difficult this year, but the Grade 11s managed to get away to Thompson’s Bay at Shaka’s Rock, where they studied faulting, folding and marine landforms along our coastline, amongst other aspects of the syllabus. Part of the Grade 12 syllabus is to study a resource produced in South Africa and for the second consecutive year it was sugar cane. The Matrics were treated to a presentation by the South African Cane Growers Association that proved to be very informative and helped to widen their knowledge base on this topic. Geography integrates many aspects of everyday life and as such is a subject that is very relatable to adolescent boys. Finally, a massive thanks must go to the enthusiastic Geography staff who inspired the young men in their care and supported the vision of the department this year. The geography department is certainly going to continue to go from strength to strength. Mr Matthew Savage HOD Geography We have once again lived through a momentous year and I am convinced that in 20 years’ time, with the benefit of hindsight, Kearsney boys of the future will learn about some of the major changes that presented themselves globally and locally – from the continuing ravages of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the looming spectre of climate change and all that it holds for ourselves and our planet, the local civil unrest that shook South Africa, the dramatic withdrawal of the West from Afghanistan and a renewed period of neo-“Cold War” politics being played out between the United States, Russia and China. It is precisely these factors mentioned that makes the critical study and understanding of our past so vitally important for any young mind trying to make sense of an often bewildering and confusing world. Despite the obvious challenges with switching teaching models from time to time, the members of the History department once again rose to the challenge and refined their online lessons and added new material and resources to the SharePoint platform that we continued to use throughout 2021. Our department continues to be very stable in terms of staffing. We welcomed Mrs Tracey van den Aardweg back into the department to assist with some of the junior classes. We were also fortunate to obtain the services of Mr Jordan du Preez as our resident intern. Jordan has quickly made his mark and is always willing to go the extra mile to assist where he can. He is definitely a future school master in the making. Mr Jonathan Waldburger decided to enroll for an Honours degree in History and curriculum development and we wish him all the best in his studies, while at the same time juggling his academic teaching and extra mural responsibilities. Unfortunately, we were unable to go on any tours or excursions in 2021. We were able to enter two teams in the annual KZN Schools History Quiz hosted by Clifton College and our boys achieved very pleasing positions with both teams in the top 5 in their respective divisions. The Centenary of Kearsney College and the historical significance of this event was commemorated as best as possible under the circumstances. The Archives and Heritage Centre underwent a makeover and, while this is still an ongoing project, the results are starting to bear fruit. As Kearsney enters its next 100 years this centre will be a fitting reminder of the rich local history that this great school has been a part of since its doors first opened in 1921. My thanks and appreciation go out to all the hard-working staff in the department, as well as to the boys who make our daily lives so interesting and rewarding. Mr Neil Peacock HOD History History The Grade 11s were able to visit Thompson’s Bay at Shaka’s Rock to do some valuable fieldwork Kearsney’s Gold Olympiad winners: Adam Gibson, Josh van der Merwe, Ethan Sumner and Garrick Steele. Absent: Tillmann Kutze Charcoal artwork by Luke Brown (Grade 12) Titled “Youth Duties to their Country” Artwork by Louis Nel (Grade 12) entitled “The World”. Pencil crayon on paper.
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