‘Discipline starts at home’ – MEC

JOHANNESBURG – Creecy said it was unfair on educators that they had to deal with ill-discipline from learners in classrooms, putting the responsibility of teaching learners about strong values, tolerance and respect as qualities that should be taught at home.

“It is the responsibility of society and parents in particular to deal with unsocial behaviour but above all, to instil social cohesion values in their children,” said Creecy in response to a question by the DA’s Mike Moriaty. The question tabled to the Education MEC: ‘In what percentage of schools does the school’s code of conduct adequately address bullying?’

The recent occurrences of violent assaults in Gauteng schools set the scene for MEC Creecy’s focus, with the latest incidents being the primary school learner who punched a female teacher in the face after the learner was confronted for not wearing the correct school uniform.

“Discipline starts at home. We should remember that these children are coming out of homes, so it is imperative that parents check their children if they are wearing the correct paraphernalia when they go to school,” added Creecy.

Another incident that caused an uproar in communities was the Glenvista High School attack of an educator by a 14-year-old teenager where a reported eleven other learners urged him on as he hit the educator with a broom and a chair.

Creecy declined to comment on the Glenvista case as there is an on-going disciplinary process currently underway.

Several other news of shootings of educators and stabbing of a learner have dominated media reports, but Creecy says that the media needed to exercise caution when reporting on violent behaviour of learners against their teachers, stating that it could lead to other ill-behaved learners perceiving the aggressors as heroes.