Principal aims to make DHS great again
DURBAN High School’s new principal wants the school to be part of a move to turn education around in South Africa.
Tony Pinheiro also wants DHS to reclaim its former glory.
The former Glenwood High School acting principal, at his inaugural assembly this week, called on the more than 900 pupils to lead the charge in which DHS would once again produce leaders in all spheres.
He also called for better recognition for teachers – those who “deserve” it.
“The best way to achieve academic success is to understand the value of the teacher,” he said, pointing out that, in the world’s two leading countries in education, Finland and Japan, teachers had the same status in society as medical doctors.
“It is sad to read in the newspapers that in some instances, teachers are not given enough respect,” said Pinheiro. “But then some don’t deserve respect.”
He said he expected teachers to dress professionally and to conduct themselves professionally in their interaction with pupils.
“It’s disgusting that there are teachers who have sexual relations with pupils. That’s absolutely unacceptable,” he said.
Pinheiro said the pupils needed to lead the change towards returning the school to the type of institution it was back in 1994, when he had his first official encounter with it: he brought a sport team from out of town and they were “given a good hiding”.
He said at that stage he also knew about DHS’s success in academics and that old boys had become society leaders.
Stressing the importance of values over curriculum content, he compared the former to the tap roots of a plant.
“If the tap root is short, the plant will be unable to cope at the earliest sign of trouble.
“If it’s deep it will be able to withstand any storm.”
He said he wanted to place an emphasis on values to make “real men” of the boys.