Schools in the West Rand have said they will ban the game Charlie Charlie if it arrives at their gates.The game has gripped the attention of schools and parents throughout the country.
It started this week when schools in the Western Cape had to ban the game.
The game is played using by lying two pencils on a piece of paper in the form of a cross and writing yes and no in four boxes inside the cross.The question is then asked, “Charlie, Charlie, are you here?” The pencil will then roll towards an answer.Yes and no can be erased from the squares and filled with questions that are to be answered. The game is a modern incarnation of a Spanish paper-and-pencil game called Juego de la Lapicera, meaning the game of the pens. Teenage girls have played Juego de la Lapicera for generations in Spain and Hispanic America, asking which boys fancy them. The game was popularised in the English-speaking world in 2015, partly through the hashtag #CharlieCharlieChallenge.
A teacher from Westonaria who wanted to stay anonymous said her school was affected by the game especially the grade five pupils.
“Games like this are disruptive, but if you can nip it in the bud then its fine. If it continues without the teachers knowledge, it will spread and affect the school. We stopped it in time at our school as pupils thought the spirit they called hides in the toilet. Pupils were scared to go to the toilet. This week, we had to get the pupils together and told them there is no such thing as spirits at the school. It was the grade five pupils who were scared to go to the toilet,” she said.
However, the game has not spread to our local Roodepoort schools as both Princess and Florida Park primary schools indicated they were not aware of it.
Barbara Fick, principal of Florida Park said she was not aware of the game taking place at her school but she had learned about it in the media.
“The game is not taking place at the school and the teachers and I patrol the pupil’s play area often. Why must children play these kinds of games when there are plenty of wonderful games they can play like marbles and skipping which teaches them teamwork and to share. I wouldn’t allow this kind of game at the school because it does not add any value in the life of a child,” she said.
Princess primary school deputy principal Claridell Ntshikilana said she did not know anything about the game nor was she aware of pupils at her school playing it.
“We have not recognized anything that resembles that game but we will keep an eye on it and take it from there,” she said.
The game however, has many parents worried as more information about the game spreads through social media.
Marietjie Taylor, a parent of two young boys said she warned them not to play such games.
“I read a bit about it on Facebook and I don’t know much about it besides that it pertains to spirits. I have warned my children to stay away from such a game because we are a Christian family. I asked my son about the game and he didn’t know anything about it,” she said.
Poppy Gcoyi, a concerned parent said children should not be relying on such things for answers as that could have negative effects on them.“I wouldn’t allow my children to play such a game. It may seem simple but its not. With Satanism growing these days, we have to be careful about what our children are doing and not to encourage such games,” she said.
Carina van Rensburg, a pastoral psychologist student said although no excorcism would be required if pupils played such a game, they would need to return to their faith.
“There is a reason why pupils would want to play such games and wanting to rely on outside forces for answers rather than think for themselves,” she said.
A local atheist, who wanted to stay anonymous said people will let themselves believe what they want.
“If there is evidence of of Charlie causing harm or even existing then we can start worrying, but if there is not evidence then I cannot see the reason why we need to stop children from playing such a game,” she said.
Pastor Dawie Ludick advised children to stay away from such games as they are opening themselves up to evil spirits which could be dangerous.
“The moment you are involved with spirits, you open yourself up to them. If you open a door, someone on the outside can come in. That’s why people get possessed. What seems to be in an innocent game becomes a doorway for Satan to enter. Those who are in trouble can be helped spiritually. To get rid of the spirits, we have to cast them out in the name of Jesus. A spirit will not leave you by itself. Modern medicine cannot help with that,” he said.
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