Alexia’s art draws severe criticism

The North Coast Courier sincerely apologies for our mistake. It was in no way the teacher’s fault and we take full responsibility for the error. We take your concerns seriously and thank you for your feedback. I will include this apology in my column next week. Editor – Lesley Naudé

The publication of a drawing by murdered six-year-old Ballito schoolchild Alexia Nyamadzawo in the Courier (June 12) has come in for severe criticism.

Dolphin Coast Pre-Primary school teacher, Bianca Felgar, who taught Alexia when she attended grade R at the school last year, said the picture had not been placed in the correct context.

“This was done in our grade R classes as a teacher-directed drawing called “Catching Snowflakes”. All our grade R’s did the same drawing and have been doing it for years. It is a magical picture where the children get to imagine what it would look like living in a place where it snows in winter and lifting their heads to catch snowflakes on their tongues.”

Felgar went on to say it was intended to be a fun, teacher-directed learning activity that had been incorrectly interpreted.

However, that it was a teacher-directed drawing was not explained when Felgar originally supplied the picture.

So the initial analysis by two psychologists who were shown the drawing and did not know it was a guided imagery, deduced that the drawing portrayed a child in distress.

Parents of Dolphin Coast Pre-Primary complained that the analysis reflected poorly on their own children, as they had produced similar drawings.

After reviewing Alexia’s drawing in the current context along with four drawings by other of the school’s children, Durban-based educational psychologist, Fanitsa Zervogianni said if it was a guided imagery the drawing had to be interpreted in the context it had been drawn – as part of a scripted art exercise.

“It seems the children were led through spoken suggestions, to create a picture that corresponded to the winter theme given by their teacher.

Alexia’s drawing was prompted and not a spontaneous drawing of self, hence cannot be analysed as a reflection of her emotions.

Since all the children produced similar drawings while following the same instructions, the comment saying the drawing portrayed a child in distress was not correct .”

Alexia’s mother, Fungai Nyamadzawo (42) is currently in police custody facing charges of premeditated murder.

The State has applied for her to be evaluated at Fort Napier mental hospital. It emerged during the initial court appearances that Nyamadzawo has a history of mental problems.

Alexia’s body was repatriated to Zimbabwe and she was buried in Kwekwe on Sunday, June 12.

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