Plumtree school in need of help
I received and e-mail from a well wisher and this was what she had to say
‘Had some interesting news from a young guy who is now in Botswana and a lawyer I think (unfortunately I am away from the office at the moment and the information is on my main computer – but I think it was an Ndebele name, Ncube perhaps ??) … Anyway he and a friend had decided to go over the border and visit their alma mater in the shape of Plumtree … and they were utterly devastated that the school had not a single window intact, desks and chairs were strewn all over the lawns, etc. and the thing that seemed to upset them most was that the running track was overgrown and cracked. They apparently tackled the headmaster (himself an old boy) and found him absolutely beaten – his comment was that the parents said things like “our children come here to be educated, not to be disciplined in the old traditions” These guys offered to come back and talk to an assembly about their school days and he seemed enthusiastic about that, but they are still waiting for the invitation. So sad. I thought you might be interested.’
Dear Henry
My name is Titus Maseko and have my boy currently at Plumtree. The school standards had really gone bad, and as parents we are very concerned and we working hard to see some mprovements.
On our last AGM meeting I was incoperated into the school Development commitiee. This comes at a time when the school is recieving a lot of bad publicity left right and center.
We need your support in bringing this school to its normal status. We will be coming up with a website for the school where we will be updating all steak holders about development at the school. There have been a bit of improvement to the school since 2011 and we are looking at making huge strides this year.
If you have an suggestions or any inputs please feel free to put them forward.
Many thanks
Kind regards
Titus
Hi Henry
How Sad, we will be in Botswana and Zimbabwe in September to scatter my husbands ashes in the Motopos and Dean intends to take us all to Pluntree to show his wife and son where he went to school. He will be very sorry to hear this news
Hey Henry u out there
Shame to hear what has happened at Plumtree. I still think about the good old days and truth be told miss it a load, not so much the impots and the daily hidings in class, well almost 🙂 All was character building and made me who I am today. Anyway heard a positive rumour that there was some funding through the OP Foundation or somewhere that would be released at some point but not entirely sure. Wonder what ever happened to the museum and all the collectibles and memorabilia at Pedda Bar. Anyway always wondered how I could get involved and contribute. Hope to chat sometime. Go well. Jay
Hi Jason,
I am out here somewhere. Decided to scale back my public stuff top get the right work/family balance. Still not there yet but I do a lot less facebook etc
How are you. Drop us a line sometime.
Cheers
Henry
well I am a boy learning at the school . I am sad to agree with wat u are saying sir . Well this year has been the worst the abortion of seniority and the changing of the school from private to government school . I would lyk it if u would fight 4 the resurrection of the school .
If the old traditions have been stopped then i am so glad.I personally suffered at the hands of bullies and it affected my studies.Surely we cannot hang on to the old colonial way of discipline we have to move wit the times.
Thanks for both your comments. Johnson. When did it become private? Martinn – firstly, sorry to hear of your experience – bullying and discipline are not the same thing however. Corporal punishment was a double edged sword. In many cases it was abused and lead to trauma but it taught a very simple lesson. Breaking rules leads to pain. You need to respect the rule of law or else. These are lessons that are true in the real world. Ironically governments take a softly, softly approach with kids and beats the life out of adults. Know this, discipline keeps you out of jail. Respect for rules leads to a safer homogenous community. Many, many young people need boundaries in our world today don’t you think? Would you rather be disciplined by a headmaster or a policeman with a baton, gun or tazer? Turns out folk just wanna do what they want and not care about how their personal behaviour affects others. Lack of respect basically and the bible predicted a time like this would appear in the last days.
But you can also take your colonial comments elsewhere. Zimbabwe has been free for 34 years now. At some point the country is grown up and needs to find contemporary reasons for its failures and look in the mirror. Blaming Ian Smith or the British for everything gets a little old quickly. There is responsibility from the old powers but is it 100% culpability for every problem in Zimbabwe? The way people like you talk one would think that is the case. Really, really easy propaganda scapegoat even when it has merit. You can flood the internet with as much talk about that as you like but I won’t tolerate too much of it on my blog so consider your reply carefully if you return.
Now I am sure that the bullies were bullied as well and that the culture was imperfect. But you throw the baby out with the bath water in a way. It wasn’t all bad. Headmasters at least didn’t steal students money. The sports fields were well maintained and sport was held in high esteem. Respect for seniors and staff was instilled. ( very much needed in our world ) . The pastoral side of things was good. I can go on. Man I don’t know. If one cannot see the positives at all then God bless you, and I hope you won’t be forever a cynic.
Latest I heard is that it is planned to be become co-ed.
Hi every body.what Plumtree needs is visible action , that maybe in the form of getting things fixed , repaired or replaced. If we could get a list of quotes to repair fix or replace we could assist in financing these , I don’t believe in giving money . The possibility of it being used for other things is too high to risk !
Hosea . Plumtree . Lloyd hse .1986-90
HI Henry.
Just been looking at Photos of Plumtree taken in 2010. Really Sad. The houses are in a sad state. Been looking online for a good school for my stepson who is currently in Bryden doing Grade 6.
Is there any hope for the school being brought back to its old standard? Would have loved my stepson to go there.
Francois Lloyd House 1989 -1992.
I am not a former student of Plumtree High School. I am a teacher based in Botswana and just happened to watch Plumtree play in the Livingstone Memorial tournament at Livingstone Kolobeng College in Gaborone, which they emerged overall winners out of all the schools from Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.
I was impressed to say the least.
As the stakeholders and old boys from the school, do all what is in your hands to ensure that the highest standards are maintained. A lot of people nowadays earn a comfortable living from sports.
Thank you.
whats the point of winning a tourney in Botswana just to come back home a get weaved by college and goldridge ….plumtree has gone down the drain….Best dress is now but an embarassment of one self.
I was in Grey House 2001-2002. Respect for the old traditions (seniority etc.) was still fairly good but from what I hear seniority no more exists tdy & sports, and admin has ‘gone to the hounds’. It pains me how a once great school has deteriorated to such a low standard. There has to be accountability and those abusing school funds should be removed immediately. The old traditions should be brought back and the school should regain it’s sporting powerhouse status. Those criticizing the seniority system need to understand there are ALWAYS consequences for our actions; if you break the rules you must suffer the consequences.
Hullo All,
Having read your comments and views on this and other fora, I can only agree with Henry in saying the thing that kills this Great Institution is that its own products believe in it the least.
Much is made of tradition and the inculcation of the belief that nothing ever ends until the Definite End….yet look at us now..
We gather around braai stands and moan about how everybody else let us down and we also dhide behind fingers waiting for others to do things first on our behalf.
People, here it is, plain and simple…Plumtree is run by the very people who grew up on the outside, looking in. They were almost to a man excluded by the very system we expect them to uphold! Really???!!!!
We need to be present to show a unity of purpose and the very principles they should want to implant in boys. By and large, they will have a large number of people who would want to enjoy being a part of its successes in the future that flow from its rescusitation..
There are no shotage of us who want to bring our sons to the School and taking them to Petra et al is not an option. Franklin Sibanda and his wife have fought hard and sacrificed much materially and socially but one family can only give so much.
Show people the spirit of Plumtree so they see who we are
thabo, which material contribution are u talking about? stop living in the past
Hello everyone,
I was at Plumtree from 95-1999(Lloyd) and to tell the truth I had mixed experiences.
Plumtree needs seniority and whichever way you look at it we all benfited from it.
It made us who we are today. My dream is that somehow all of us oldboys chip in from wherever we now live in the world and buy Plumtree and return the love and respect that we all feel for it.
We need a place where our sons can grow strong and become men. Remember the Plumtree Ideal guys!,I still live by it.
Henry unfortunately i was not able to meet you at school but the reforms you brought in as headboy were excellent.
Lets all put our heads together and save the institution that made us!
@nikson. The fact you had to ask me this question shows you are very much a part of the problem. I may live in the past, but i am very much aware of the present situation there….and painfully so. Perhaps someday you will finally make up your mind and act, or perhaps you will wait for others to set a path for you.