Oral history
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Collection
RPCV-ACC-2019-030
Thomas Klug served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana from July 1972 to July 1974 as a chemistry and math teacher. He taught at St. Peter's Secondary School, which was run by Catholic missionaries but financially supported by the Ghanaian government and thus followed the government curriculum. The school was a compound with student dormitories and staff housing a mile from the village of Nkwatia (in the Kwahu region) so Klug didn't interact much with people in the village. The Ghanaian teachers almost considered Peace Corps volunteers to be part of the white school administration, while the administrators considered them staff. Therefore, Klug interacted more with the British, Irish, and French teachers at the school than with Ghanaian teachers and staff. He discusses the importance of passing school exams for students' future prospects and his success in helping his students pass these exams. He also talks about his travels in Nigeria during his service; in addition, he toured Europe for three months on his way home. Interviewed and recorded by Evelyn Ganzglass, November 5, 2018. 1 digital audio file.