“Schools are a place of learning and not a kindergarten where you can drop off your children so you as parents can take a break.”
So says Ward councillor Angus McKenzie after hearing horror stories about the behaviour of children at local schools.
“From the outset let me say clearly, loudly and with no ambiguity, schools are place of learning, schools are not a kindergarten, a place to drop your kids off for a few hours and neither are schools a breeding ground for gang activity, drugs and crime.
“I have had to listen to desperate pleas from parents whose children just cannot learn due to the ongoing disrupting of learning by some learners. I have had to hear desperate appeals by teachers who just can’t take the disrespect, utter disobedience and frankly abusive behaviour from children,” says McKenzie.
Behaviour
He says many mornings, way after school starting time, he sees kids strolling to school in half their uniforms, smoking cigarettes and whatever else and swearing at you when you ask them why they are not at school yet.
“So is this an indication of what happens or what is allowed at home? It cannot be, because that behaviour must not and shall not be tolerated at schools. More concerning is ongoing bullying taking place at school. When I look at matric results, it makes sense why our children are struggling to get jobs, struggling to get into places of further education and many of these challenges boil down exactly to what is happening in the classroom, on the school grounds and in the minds of those kids who think school is their place to stamp down authority vs learning for a brighter future.
“I want to appeal to parents and learners affected by bullies, the law provides you the opportunity to open a case against these individuals. I want to thank educators who have spent years studying hard full knowing they would never earn a salary worth their effort for relentlessly continuing to believe the Cape Flats can still shine, the Cape Flats can still produce excellence.
“However, while you are trained to deal with learning disabilities, learning challenges, you are not expected to accept being sworn at, hit or even being verbally abused,” says McKenzie.
The Western Cape has been rocked in recent weeks by cases of children misbehaving, with at least two learners being stabbed by other learners in Mitchells Plain. At Alexander Sinton High School in Athlone two learners were seen fighting in full uniform.
