An 18-year-old girl attempted suicide after failing Grade 10 twice and being called stupid by her father. The opening sentence of an article by news24.
The father indicates that he is short tempered. Despite admitting that he has a trait that does not make for good communication between him and the daughter, some commenters wished to tell us that she might really be stupid or that it is OK to 'sometimes' say 'things' in anger to a child.
Question is how often would a short tempered person do so, before it becomes abuse. Judging by the thumbs down on BrainCandyCPT’s comment, that is OK by many people. All he needs to say is that he regrets it. True to the Cleansing Ceremony ethos as described by an author a while ago.
"All I need is a chance, support and help in the problematic maths literacy and business economics," the girl said. How true this statement is debateable. The question is how much of a maths teacher does one need to teach at a national 32% mathematical literacy level?
Even more sad, why was she enrolled in those subjects? The school told him to enrol her at a college (nogal), or at an adult basic education centre. Case closed and no more responsibility for the school? Her problem is someone else’s now. And she was not already identified as this “stupid” learner 4 years ago?
The scant information in the article makes for difficulty to be objective, but it is not about this particular child. It is about all the other “stupid” children out there. The ones that is “stupid” because they are underfed. The ones that is “stupid” because they are exposed to pollution. It is about all the FAS children out there. The abused ones. The masses of uneducated that will grow in number until the social grant chimera is overwhelmed.
It about them that will grow up knowing that to keep a dog is wrong, that they should not use hair straightners, or whitening creams. That one should hate all things western while depending on stone and mortar houses (and compounds with bunkers), electricity, running water, taxis and anti-retrovirals.
Is it also not time that the wholesale abuse of children in South Africa stops?
Just consider how far this country has really regressed or stagnated during the past 20 years. A country where a child is abused without consequences. A country where ideology, work pressure or culture, or whatever reason, makes a child an object for abuse. And people of all colours think it is OK. A country where violence is perpetuated from one generation to the next. Fair enough, but still. Fuck you, who call a child stupid!
Is the continual wrecking of farms, mines and buildings to demand money the best example for children how to resolve conflict?
If we (the population) were serious about stopping child abuse and the spiral of hate, anger and violence that we are trapped in, then why fill a stadium with sycophants to listen to empty promises. What is going to trigger the event that will make that same town look as if Marikana and De Doorns were friendly church picnics for the Teddy Bears? As it surely will happen.
After which we can start with 1st World practices, like having an education system......
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