Focus on violence and buylling: Schools should be a safe place of learning
In light of continuing school violence, the Advertiser has compiled an editorial feature on the subject matter. Read about what our local school say in the issue dated April 26.
Children go to school expecting a safe environment in which their greatest challenge should be trying to ace the test, resolve a complex mathematics problem or being the best person they can be.
They do not expect their lives to be in danger. This is according to psychologist Colleen Johnson in regards to the prevailing violence in schools.
She was speaking in reaction to the continued cases of violence reported in schools.
“Schools can be very unsafe environments, as the learner is faced with some form of malice being perpetrated against him, which is often reinforced by the collective consciousness,” said Johnson.
She said most of urban and private schooling environments have stringent policies and procedures in place pertaining to incidents of violence or bullying behaviour.
“Unfortunately, the rural schooling environments or schools that are overpopulated or are trying to manage a socio–economic structure that barely meets Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, are not always that equipped to deal with the level of violence perpetrated in that arena.
“This type of violence is seldom committed in isolation and tends to be part of the ‘gang mentality’ which further spurs on the bullies to behave in a violent or aggressive manner towards the targeted audience or individual. It is often a spectator sport which further exacerbates the bullying behaviour.”
She pointed out that violence has almost become the ethos of Africa.
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The Gauteng Department of Education
According to the department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, they always dispatch a Dispute Management Team to schools to ensure the correct disciplinary measures are taken against such perpetrators for necessary action to be taken.
“Counselling and necessary support are also offered to all affected learners,” said Mabona.
“We condemn any form of assault of learners in schools as corporal punishment is outlawed by the constitution and the South African Schools Act. Educators have been trained in alternative methods of discipline practices and procedures.
“We have waged a stiff war against educators who continue to assault learners and we will not hesitate to ensure appropriate action is taken against such educators.”
He said the department implores educators to refrain from all sorts of learner assault and should at all times lead by example to ensure learners mirror their conduct in creating safe school environments which are conducive for effective teaching and learning.
Bullying on the increase
According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag).Bullying is on the increase yet, shockingly, parents, teachers and adults generally still don’t see anything wrong with it and underestimate the extent and effect of bullying.
Sadag’s operations director Cassey Chambers said: “Bullying is the most common form of violence; between 15 per cent and 30 per cent of teens have been involved with bullying yet more than two-thirds of teens believe schools respond poorly to bullying and that adult help is infrequent and ineffective.
“One in 10 learners who drop out of school does so because of repeated bullying. Consider that as many as seven per cent of learners stay home at least once a month because of bullies.
“You will find 58 per cent of youth have not told their parents or an adult about a bullying incident.”
READ MORE POINTS OF VIEW AND EXPERT OPINION ON THE SUBJECT MATTER IN THE ADVERTISER’S EDITORIAL FEATURE ON SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND BULLYING.
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