Abstract
Many of the leaders in the fight against Apartheid received their education from a group of schools,
which are now part of the Historical Schools Restoration Project (HSRP). This study investigated the
philosophy and approach to education that these leaders received. It also explored the historical
evolution of the schools, the impact of Apartheid on the schools and the current ethos and leadership
philosophies that the schools subscribe to. This qualitative research drew on the tenets of an historical
design research. The aim of this paper is to present the significance of the schools from an historical
as well as a present day perspective. It reflects on the history of a sample of schools that form part of
the HSRP. It also explored the interface between these schools historical connecteness and present
day experiences, and the juncture between historical connectness and the concept of the ‘African
Child’.