Dear Editor,
I would just like to express my disgust at the article relating to the Grade 8 boy being beaten up in school by a Matric student. What is going on in schools that Matric pupils feel the need to beat up innocent younger boys in order to make themselves look cool?
Not to mention the fact that other pupils are filming it, or even the fact that the only response the principal can give is that a case should be opened with the police? Why can't schools protect their pupils against other pupils?
Surely, when parents drop off their children at school, they should be able to feel comfortable with the level of safety at the school? If children are forced to spend their day within the school yard, then it should be the schools responsibility to protect these children.
There must be enough teachers in school to patrol the school yard during break periods. I find it ridiculous that teachers spend break time in the teachers' lounge, while pupils are being beaten up on the playground.
Most professionals get an hour lunch break as from 12 or 1, so then why should teachers get a break if a school day only lasts half a day? So maybe if the teachers spent the break time patrolling the school yard, this kind of thing won't happen.
The response that the principal gave regarding this issue is also unacceptable to me. How can no action have been taken against this Matric pupil? Surely with video evidence, it should be easy to identify this pupil, and I think expulsion is the only way to go. An example should be made of this pupil and a very strong message should be sent to all pupils that that kind of behaviour and violence would not be tolerated.
The schools should be held responsible for incidents like this, and the fact that the principal responds by saying that they cannot help what the children learn at home, is absurd.
Incidents like this not only physically hurt the pupil being bullied, but also do serious emotional damage and we cannot just stand back and let it happen. I agree with the fact that corporal punishment should no longer be used in schools, but when a pupil commits an offence like this, immediate dismissal should be implemented. This should go for all big offences like drug use in schools, rape, and physical assault.
It's time for schools to start taking responsibility for the safety of their pupils, and to act on the total disregard for other people. I appeal to all schools to take a stand, get rid of pupils disrupting classes, assaulting teachers and beating up of other pupils. If such offences become a good enough reason for immediate expulsion, then that might start deterring these kinds of acts.
Let's make schools a safe place for our children to get the education that we as parents pay so much for, without having to fear for their own safety. Let's teach these unruly pupils that violence in schools would not be tolerated, and then maybe that will change the future of South Africa to be more accepting and less violent.
Concerned parent Jacques Smith
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