Opportunity to bridge the schisms

THE school year started this week with the usual controversy and anger. This time, though, the fury was for an act of apparent racism at a Schweizer-Reneke primary school in the North West.

A parent posted a picture to social media of new pupils in the Grade R class, a little pocket of black children to one side, against a sea of white faces on the other side. It spoke 1000 words.

In the understandable row that ensued, the teacher was suspended, an investigation was launched, protesters marched on the school and the governing body tried to explain the separation on linguistic grounds.

Afterwards, pictures were distributed on social media showing the same children, this time ostensibly integrated.

There are many lessons for all of us from Schweizer-Reneke this week, but the greatest is to be alive to the sensitivities in this country that are rawer now than at any time in the last 25 years.

We all have to be aware that we live in a country not just of gross inequality but of deep racial and cultural schisms that must be bridged if we are to have any hope of achieving the better life for all so beloved by our founding father, Nelson Mandela.

We have come a long way. We were able to start a school year this week without the usual litany of disasters, which in itself is a measure of progress.

We still have far to go, especially to ensure that we break the tragic cycle of drop-outs and make certain that all of the Class of 2019 eventually get to matric in 12 years’ time and write their final exams.

In those challenges, though, lie opportunities – the greatest of which is to finally lay the real foundations of a non-racist, nonsexist and caring society.

Schweizer-Reneke offers us a golden opportunity to do just that.