The Centre for Child Law and Section 27 are concerned by recent reports of teacher being assaulted by learners.
We understand the concerns but are apprehensive about the public sentiments expressed on this issue.
In particular, we are worried about sentiments indicating a need for more punitive measure to deal with learners.
The manner in which the discourse is developing, for instance, the call to bring the police into schools is alarming.
We disagree with the involvement of the police in schools or belief that corporal punishment or any heavy handedness is the answer.
Schools are a microcosm of communities, therefore responses must start both at schools and at home.
We are of the view that preventing violence has to be a priority for everyone and would like to underscore the need for a holistic approach to resolving the problem.
One which focuses on the individual learner and seeks to probe the underlying reasons as to why that learner is resorting to violence.
Research suggests that violent behaviour by children is often a reflection of the communities we live in. According to the Birth to Twenty Plus study that observed children in Soweto for at least 28 years, more than 80% of children in their primary school years and more than 90% during their secondary school years, reported being victims of violence at home, school, in the community or in intimate relationships. This research shows that children who have few safe spaces at home, school or in their community can become desensitised to violence. In addition, the high levels of violence in South African society has, at least, some of its origins in violence witnessed and experienced in childhood.
With this in mind, we believe that providing families and communities with support is a good way to start dealing with this issue holistically.
Furthermore, given that schools are one of the most influential institutions in children’s lives, we can then look at what can schools and/or other duty bearers such as the Department of Social Development do to provide better support to learners and teachers in these cases.
According to the Institute for Security Studies, South Africa is becoming more, not less, violent as confirmed in the 2017/18 crime statistics released by the police this month. We strongly believe that calls to re-introduce corporal punishment would cause even more violence.
Evidence already suggests children who grow up in violent households are more likely to use or become victims of violence later in life.
We need to conduct research to better understand the causes of violence in schools and communities so that we can put in place prevention and early intervention strategies and positive discipline measures that may assist in building a non-violent society.
* The Centre for Child Law and Section 27
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Newspapers.