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 South
African Economic Study Tour |
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JHS Teacher Sean
Russo Shares Experience |
 Johnstown
High School social studies teacher Sean Russo recently
returned from an economic education study tour in South
Africa, sponsored by the Council of Economic Education
through a grant from the United States Department of
Education.
Mr. Russo, who teaches both economics and Participation in
Government at JHS, and also serves as the social studies
department coordinator, was one of only 24 middle and high
school economic educators selected to participate from
throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The primary
purpose of the study tour was for American educators to
learn about the economy of South Africa so that they may
share this knowledge with their students and colleagues.
The teachers will use this experience to increase American
students' economic literacy, as well as their knowledge
and understanding of South Africa.
The study tour began with an orientation in Washington,
D.C., where the educators received information about the
current economic, educational and political conditions in
South Africa, to gain a context for what they would be
seeing. Next they traveled to South Africa, where they
visited sites in Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province and
Mafikeng in the North West Province, to learn about the
history of the nation. They visited the Apartheid Museum,
the former home of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, and a
shantytown / squatters community in Soweto. They also
toured Mafikeng, a city that was under siege by the
British during the Boer War. Most significantly, the
educators visited several rural farm high schools, where
they observed lessons in economics being taught. Mr. Russo
met with the teachers and students of these schools and
provided them with gifts donated by the Elizabeth Cady
Stanton Womens' Consortium and JHS basketball coach Scott
Hale.
The American educators heard presentations from leading
officials from the North West Provincial Department of
Education, the South African Foundation for Economic and
Financial Education (SAFEFE), as well as from economics
professors from the University of Johannesburg, North West
University - Mafikeng Campus, and North West University -
Potchefstroom Campus.
HIV and AIDS is still a major problem in South Africa,
affecting nearly one out of every five people, and life
expectancy is less than 50 years. Mr. Russo saw this first
hand when his group visited a day care facility for
children who were orphans, who had a parent too ravaged by
AIDS to be able to care for the child, or who were
themselves HIV positive.
Mr. Russo stated that the study tour to South Africa made
a huge impact on him. He is eager to share the experiences
with his students in the fall so that they may have a
better understanding of economic concepts and a greater
appreciation for the people and the country of South
Africa. In the past, the Council for Economic Education
has sponsored economic study tours for American teachers
and educational training seminars. The Council has
provided materials to many countries, including former
communist nations such as Russia, Romania and Kazakhstan,
as well as developing nations such as Indonesia and South
Africa. However, due to congressional budget cutbacks,
funding for this program has been eliminated for next
year. Mr. Russo expressed remorse that he may have been a
part of the very last economic study tour by the Council
for Economic Education. "Cutting funding for the program
impacts U.S. educators and their students who, otherwise,
would not have been able to travel to these nations or
make the contacts with schools, educators, officials, and
students that the tours provided. In addition, this avenue
to share knowledge and promote understanding and
friendship across the continents will cease to exist."
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Photo
above right: Sean Russo and Jacqueline Jones presenting a
JHS yearbook to Mrs. K. Kanagaratnam, Principal of the Sol
Plaatjie Secondary School
Photo bottom left: economics students at the Seketi High
School
Photo bottom right: food service workers providing lunch
for a student at the Boitekong Secondary School
 
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