Editor’s Comment: School violence an indictment against society

THIS edition of the Zululand Observer includes two horrific reports of fatal school murders.

*BREAKING NEWS: Pupil shot, killed in revenge attack

* Jozini school pupil fatally stabbed

* Teen stabbed to death at Mtuba school

Besides the tragic loss of young lives, families, teachers and pupils have been left severely traumatised and it will take years before they fully recover – especially those in front of whom the violence was perpetrated.

What are schools to do?

The Departments of Education and Safety and Liaison, despite the steps they have instituted to prevent such incidents, simply cannot make schools absolutely safe.

Even where there are security guards present at schools, and even when searches of pupils and school bags are conducted, there is no way to guarantee no weapon will find its way onto a school premises.

The fact of the matter is: this is not a school problem per se.

Pupils bring to school who they are, how they have been raised, the various influences on their lives, personal habits, value systems and a host of contributing factors – including the fact that many high school pupils are indeed young adults already in their 20s.

South Africa is an angry nation, a country infamous for our excessive levels of violence.

Daily there are examples of people resorting to violent actions to ‘resolve’ issues, from road rage to destruction of property, to family violence.

Uncontrolled passions are also fuelled by excessive alcohol and drug intake.

Small wonder our youth believe this is the way to behave.

The school system bears the brunt of these societal ills.

We wish well those educators who are doing their best to inculcate good behaviour and a sense of discipline and respect at their overcrowded and under-resourced schools.

We also sympathise with those who have to literally and figuratively clean up after the chaos that so graphically illustrates the state of mind of many of today’s youths.