Treading a Delicate Tightrope: A principal balancing between education and political change during turbulent Paperback – 29 April 2022

I read Mike Burton's book with interest and admiration. He was the principal of All Saints College in South Africa's Eastern Cape, situated in one of the Bantustans which the apartheid governments carved out to further its pretence of black rule in the impoverished "homelands".The "delicate tightrope" of the title is a metaphor for the difficult path which he had to tread in order to maintain some support from those who funded the college, while focusing on the struggle of the students and their community for liberation from the evil regime of apartheir.It begins with a gripping and potentially violent confrontation between the students at his college and the staff. It transpires that this ugly incident is based on a series of misunderstandings, and Mike recounts the efforts which he and his staff made both to promote a philosophy of education which fitted the students for their role in a future liberated society, and provided support for the transition to that new society.The book culminates with a visit from the newly released Nelson Mandela, on the brink of becoming President of South Africa, and the supportive speech which he gave to a gathering of All Saints College students while attending an important meeting held at the college.The book is of great interest to those interested in education and its role in a time of change. It also provides valuable insights into an important stage of the historic struggle to defeat apartheid. Fascinating reading!