The Making of a Good White - E-thesis - Helsinki.fi

aimed at those children who were showing signs of becoming troublesome.
As a group they participated in simple handicraft projects in order
to learn co-operation. The ideological emphasis was on developing a collective
White identity, as the quotation below blatantly points out.
“No particular emphasis is placed on learning in the sense of developing
individual abilities; the emphasis rests on encouraging and guiding
the group members to participate in the group undertakings . . . as the
children concerned become adjusted to participation of this nature in
a small group they become better able to fi nd their place in the larger,
natural groups of the community.” (CHL, SWR: 1953.)
Adolescent boys were taught boxing. The boxing club was successful:
in 1953 there were 80 members. During its existence, it produced some
successful boxers on a national level. Characteristically, there was also a
hidden agenda.
“The work done by the Club goes further than developing technical
skill, however. The trainer is a deeply religious person and exercises
an infl uence upon the boys which has a notable effect on their general
conduct.” (CHL, SWR: 1953.)
At this time the ladies’ club was in trouble. Those residents who had
initially run this club, had moved to better-off areas, and only one of the
ten original Club Committee members was left. This was a phenomenon
parallel to the mass departure of the church councils. Even when the club
presented demonstrations of needlework, making of salads, educational
films, a games evening, a gifts evening and a debate, it was difficult to
get the residents to run it. The aim of the club was defined as ”encouragement
of a greater measure of independence and self-reliance” (CHL,
SWR: 1953). But these characteristics did not seem to be developing in
the residents, and the social workers were frustrated.
The escalating affluence of the 1960s showed in the ways the people’s
leisure time changed. The increased wealth was reflected in the attention
paid to the seniors.
“The Company social workers reported upon the success of ‘Aged
Week’ which was held in Cape Town from 25th September, 1961, to
29th September, 1961, when many of the aged tenants residing in the
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