Letter to school principals

Historically, schools are supposed to be an embracing institutions of comfort, safety and enlightenment for society at large.

But regrettably, these educational institutions are fast mutating into predatory precincts for aggressive learners.

A menacing conflagration of wildfire, in the form of bullying, is decimating the educational fabric of our public schools. On a daily basis, torturous incidents of bullying are prevailing at our schools.

Some learners, armed with knives, deadly weapons and narcotics, have turned our schools into fearsome dungeons of terror and mayhem. Certain teachers feel compelled to arm themselves with guns in anticipation of self-defense against violent learners.

Few years ago there was a video depicting a teacher armed with while invigilating an exam session at school. Some innocent learners, on a daily basis, are suffering physical and emotional abuse at hands of aggressive learners. School-based bullying can manifest through beatings, degrading insults, sexual abuse, humiliating jokes defamatory slander. It becomes the penultimate duty of the principals ensure that anti-bullying policies are strictly applied at schools.

School governing bodies (SGB) must authorise the principal to zero-tolerance towards any incidents of bullying at schools.

Most violent and aggressive learners are usually drawn from family households that are morally and ethically broken. The family, church, school and mass media are considered as primary agents of socialisation. Proper ethics, morals and a sense of discipline greatly lacking in most/many family households. Consequently, some children without moral guidance, are suddenly catapulted into the school system. Firstly, we appeal to parents to vigorously instill morals, ethics and discipline in the minds and hearts of their children. Secondly, church pastors must mentor congregants on the biblical value of moral discipline and ethical consciousness. The media must educate and enlighten citizens on the virtues of goodwill, respect, tolerance, love and humility. South Africa has drastically morphed into a morally broken and ethically decomposed society. Consequently, this raging moral paralysis had fostered a breeding ground for menacing bullies and violent learners at schools. Delinquent immorality and bullying predations at schools must be stopped, now!