Over the past number of weeks teachers took to social media to express their concerns regarding their safety, following a letter published by the principal of a high school in Stellenbosch touched on the subject of behaviour of learners.
The letter states that many teachers are experiencing verbal abuse from learners, especially in the lower grades.
Standard spoke to a few high-school teachers, who shared their experiences.
A teacher and deputy principal of a school in the town said: “As a school we are experiencing a great challenge with our Grade 8 and 9s who are extremely disruptive.” The teacher, who is also on the school’s disciplinary committee, mentioned that the cause of their disruptiveness could possibly be linked to the pandemic. “These learners aren’t used to being back at school at full capacity, and it could be that they are frustrated.”
Owing to the fact that schools are guided by a code of conduct, which the school is forced to use as a guideline for when the child is in breach of the conduct, and use it as a guide when punishing a learner.
The teacher further said after a learner is charged and has appeared at the disciplinary hearing they are given a behavioural book which monitors their performance.
“Our hands are basically tied, because a child must be given at least four chances before we can expel them.”
The teachers at the school confiscate large knives from learners on a regular basis.
“If you look at the location of the school it could be that they carry these knives for protection or it could be they are gangsters.”
The teacher further told Standard that the school is looking for solutions to combat the situation in which it finds itself. “We have now made it a regular occurrence where we speak to the learners about values and encourage them to never let their circumstances define them.”
Another teacher expressed their concern about the behaviour of the learners at school.
“I am a young teacher who started this year, and the first term was quite hectic for me. But luckily I had the support of the more experienced teachers.”
The school’s code of conduct and the constant reminder of school rules have also made the term a little bit easier.
Another teacher said she wished officials of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) were in their shoes. “These people are really out of touch with what we as teachers go through.”
