Teach your children well
Horrifying videos of violence at schools in KwaZulu-Natal surfaced in recent weeks. While it is an unfortunate reality that accompanies education in many parts of the country, the sheer savagery of the violence has been eye-opening.
First was the video of a male pupil attacking a female in the corridor at an Inanda school, swearing at her and beating her until she falls to the ground, bleeding. He then continues to kick and slap her.
At the George Campbell School of Technology, pupils protesting against alleged racism were seen manhandling teachers, rampaging through classrooms and disrupting lessons, and can be heard threatening to overturn teachers’ cars.
Then there was Richards Bay, where a group of pupils was seen attacking another group with knives and pangas. The fight apparently arose after a pupil opened a school bus window, which left another feeling cold.
“Even if we install state-of-the-art security in our schools, we will not win the war against the scourge of violence unless parents and communities take responsibility for instilling a sense of what is right and wrong in their children. Schools should not be the only places children are taught morals and discipline; this should begin at home,” said Education MEC Mthandeni Dlungwana. He is right. What are children being taught at home if a dispute over an open window results in an attack with a panga? How does a child leave home with such weapons without the parents being aware of it?
This speaks of a complete lack of discipline at home, and the absence of appropriate role models. With fathers not featuring in their lives and their moms at work, many boys grow up without any discipline, with no culture of respect and no life skills to speak of.
However, the government cannot escape culpability. Having made it difficult to discipline, suspend or expel errant pupils, the state has emasculated teachers. And pupils take full advantage of this. The education system has to provide alternatives, or this sorry state of affairs will continue. Religious leaders also need to step up and use their influence to appeal to parents to fulfil their responsibilities, and to instil values in our young people
Ultimately, however, it is the parents’ duty to ensure they raise offspring who will be a credit to them and the country, and who are not thugs who resort to violence at the slightest provocation. Also, it is time many dads man up and become role models for their children.