What should have been an ordinary classroom moment has turned into a viral controversy that led to a teacher’s temporary suspension and ignited both outrage across social media and a protest outside a local primary school, reports the George Herald.

A video circulating online shows a classroom at Thembalethu Primary School where several Grade One learners appear to be eating pies and drinking juice while one learner sits with his face covered by his hand, seemingly without food.

The video, reportedly recorded by the class teacher and later shared with a parents’ WhatsApp group, has drawn widespread criticism from the public, with many accusing the teacher of humiliating the child.

The controversy erupted just days before Pi Day on Saturday, a day usually associated with celebrating the mathematical constant , but which has ironically been overshadowed locally by a debate about dignity and compassion in the classroom.

In the video, the teacher addresses the parents on the group while speaking to the learners in the classroom.

“We don’t speak while we eat; we eat,” she tells them.

“Here they are, parents, they are eating,” she said

She then instructs one of the learners to turn to the front at her desk, open her pie and start eating.

“Here is the pain, parents. All the kids in class are eating, but one. All the school supplies I bought [and] today I paid for a child that a parent did not pay for,” she added.

‘Part of bigger picture’

A source familiar with the teacher’s relationship with the parents claims there was more to the situation than appears in the video.

“A lot took place before this video was made, and the video was edited by whoever sent it to Facebook. The video was only meant for the class parents, not for the public,” the source said, adding that it was not intended to cause harm.

“The teacher had bought the learner’s school uniform and school supplies earlier this year because he did not have any.She had done this to address the parents of learners in her class because the said learners’ parents had not showed up for meetings with her following written requests from her to come see her,” said the source.

George Herald was told that after the video was made, the teacher gave the learner a pie and juice she had paid for.

Investigation

According to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), the video was allegedly shared by the teacher to highlight that the learner was the only child excluded from receiving goods purchased through a fundraising initiative.

“The WCED is aware of a disturbing viral video involving a Grade One learner who was filmed in class by a class teacher,” said spokesperson Bronagh Hammond.

She said it has since been established that the teacher had in fact purchased the fundraising item for the learner, who received it after the filming of the video.

“The manner in which this was done, however, was totally inappropriate,” Hammond said.

The department has confirmed that the teacher is currently not at school and has been temporarily suspended while a formal investigation is conducted by the department’s labour relations directorate.

According to the department, the teacher has no previous disciplinary record.

The WCED has also offered counselling support to the learner and the learner’s parents.

“The WCED remains committed to ensuring that all learners are treated with dignity and care, and that appropriate professional conduct is upheld at all times. A thorough investigation is now under way,” Hammond said.

Protest outside school

Anger over the video spilled into the streets yesterday, when concerned parents and community members gathered outside the school demanding answers from the school and education authorities.

Jewel Jonkers, regional director of the Eden/Karoo district, addressed the crowd outside the school saying that they are investigating the matter, and confirmed the teacher’s suspension.

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