Restore order to classroom

I REFER to the column by Professor Jonathan Jansen (DD, May 10). I believe some perspective needs to be given to Prof Jansen's assertions.

If, as Jansen argues, white parents removing their children from predominantly black schools is racist, he should consider the racism white teachers are subjected to by black learners, parents and the department of education.

I taught for almost five years in the rural Eastern Cape, until 2016. I cannot remember how many times I was sworn at by learners in class, threatened with assault, disrespected and verbally abused. A learner even bit my hand.

I know of many teachers who experience the same. Yet it’s almost impossible to expel a learner – there has to be “a smoking gun” or video proof.

Teachers are also continuously undermined by the department and their version of events is almost inevitably viewed with suspicion.

I believe there is a politically motivated agenda to make schools ungovernable. Classrooms have become like war zones. Proper teaching is often impossible. As a result standards are dropped and learners are pushed through.

It is now possible for a learner to get to matric without ever having passed a year.

Underpaid teachers are under pressure to improve results and find ways to pass pupils. If they don't they are criticised for not being able to maintain discipline.

I am aware of cases where learners did not hand in assignments, marks were invented elsewhere along the pipeline. That does nothing to improve discipline because learners hear about it and now there are no consequences for bad behaviour.

In the process learners who want to learn suffer at the hands of the unruly majority.

It is laughable to expect white parents to keep their children in such environments.

I have visited schools where education is in Afrikaans. What a contrast. Discipline in class. Learners actually working in the classrooms.

What can be done to improve this situation? Here are some, by no means comprehensive, suggestions:

1. If a learner does not hand in work or fails exams he/she must fail the year. Such a learner must not be allowed to endlessly repeat so that you have 20-year-olds in Grade 7;

2. If a learner misbehaves there must be a sanction. Expulsion must also be possible;

3. If a child does not show the academic promise necessary for university, he/she should exit the system at the end of Grade 9 and be encouraged to gain a trade or other vocational skills, rather then push them to get a matric which qualifies them for nothing but unemployment; and

4. Corporal punishment is contentious, but when controlled and when parents give permission I believe it has a place.

Until order and discipline is restored to the classroom and standards are raised, not lowered, don't expect parents not to move their kids. This is not a racist response, but a rational one. — Name supplied, via e-mail