Classroom battlegrounds
What's going on in our schools? We've got schools installing cameras to monitor kids, metal detectors at the front gates and now at Greenpoint High in East London they are considering body searches! I can't say I blame them, not after the recent incidents there where a pupil allegedly attacked a pregnant teacher with a knife.
But all these developments send cold shivers down my spine when I try to imagine what schools will be like in 10 years or so when my daughter goes to high school. Will pupils be manacled and attached to their desks? Will there be armed guards patrolling the corridors of learning?
When I was at school such things were pretty much unheard of. The worst you would come across would be a bunch of guys bust for smoking a joint or a couple of fags behind the toilets. Now we have kids getting drunk at school, entire classrooms of girls pregnant, police conducting classroom raids and so on.
What's going on here? Are our children turning feral or is something else at play?
June 26th, 2008 - 20:39
Good thinking Gandalf. The name would have to be changed. Perhaps to Amazing- Empty- Vessels?? At least those make a noise that would dupe a stoned crowd, at least for latter part of evening I guess.
June 27th, 2008 - 01:00
Uthink and Jazzman, if you carefully review the majority of blogs you will find that most of the time, race are brought into the discussions by what would appear to be, BLACK (all current legislated colors and nationalities included) bloggers and of course, our own Luxm! The matter at hand is joyfully debated until some ‘previously disadvantaged’ individual cries: “Discrimination” or “racist” or whatever else (like lilywhite, he he he) and start to make inflammatory and derogatory statements.
Trying to explain the complexities of human nature and behavioral development in SA through blaming everything on the last 300 years is ridiculous. It is virtually impossible to consider all factors contributing to this complex issue, yet you lot claim to know it all and furthermore are convinced that you are right.
Delusions of grandeur coupled with warped perceptions and positions of authority is what created the worst dictatorships in Africa (and the rest of the world, but we are debating Southern Africa, so try and keep your eye on the ball)
If Uthink and the students have concluded that there is a gang of ‘low intellect’ conspiring against the common good, you are well on your way to create the above situation through misguided and unsubstantiated deductions.
U might be surprised at the level of education that’s floating around on this blog.
On that matter, how many degrees do you claim to have (actual certificates from reputed organizations currently in your possession only, no admin delayed, yet to be awarded stuff please)?
June 27th, 2008 - 02:07
Ohmigod Happy Expat, where did you learn this term ‘Delusions of Grandeur’? You seem to be very fond of it.
Is this a diagnosis you were given because I do not think you have ever laid your hands on the DSM IV R!!! Are you Schezophrenic? O lord have mercy, you are in an active phase right now. I hope you have someone to help you take your TX. Wow this is not anything that occurred to me. I will be more sensitive in the future and be more accommodative of individuals with mental illness like yourself.
Make sure you take your anti-anxiety treatment, surely you will get some sleep. I need to go now,I have a lot of readings to do and I have a long day tomorrow.
Gnite.
June 27th, 2008 - 06:07
U(dont)think,
Ish, is that it? LOL. You cannot intelligently answer or debate so you post this feeble attempt?
Se-ri-ous, dude you’re out of your depth. Ha ha ha….
You know the one about running with the big dogs? Well then don’t P!$$ like a puppy!
He he he
June 27th, 2008 - 06:27
DSM-IV-R – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders IV published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). This manual lists mental diseases, conditions, and disorders, and also lists the criteria established by APA to diagnose them.
Are we dealing with a medic?
June 27th, 2008 - 06:58
No Stentor – he is not a medic…he is a loony himself and was prescribed that book by his psychiatrist…
June 27th, 2008 - 09:40
Just reading through all these blogs from people like Gadget, Stentor, Judy and Happy Expat, solidify my believe that once you are out of power, the bleating becomes endless. Endless to such a degree that they totally lose the whole debat. The debat should be focussed on the problems in our schools. Only in a divided society can people lose sight of the ideal. The ideal being an education that is safe and equip our future leaders with the tools to govern, earn a living and excel in their dreams. The above-mention are playing fiddle while Rome is burning. My advice to them is to bring their perceived analytical skills to bear on the matter at hand and to stop lowering the standard of the debat by taking shots at anyone that tries to contribute to the debat. I rest my case, the social revolution is really hard to achieve with such irrelevant blogging.
June 27th, 2008 - 10:26
I would like to stay away from the comments that were not a response but a personal attack to me.But I just want to say only one thing regarding the wrong spelling of the word “bourgeoisie”( as quoted by Gadalf, I would like to say, also as you have heard me I am from the Third World here in South Africa, not from the SA first world as most of you, so speak third world english not first world.
The other thing I want to point is refering to the main theme of the discussion again. I propposing again that in order for the former white schools to be peaceful the solution has be with first creating a healthy environment in the already violent high schools. Mr Trench is shocked by the behaviour of pupils in former white schools. What I want to say is that this is new to these schools and an ordinary thing to township schools and unless this changes it will also be ordinary to the former white schools or should I say the Model C schools.
June 27th, 2008 - 10:48
Morning Jazzman, regarding spelling and the use of English. I don’t agree with you when you say we must use third world English. First of all, you make an assumption that English is my home language. Secondly, these bloggs are available to the whole world, First, Second, Third, Developing – whatever. We already know that U Think So uses them to help educate his students, he told us so. Don’t you think we should then use the language as it was meant to be used? What kind of an example are we adults (now I’m making an assumption!) setting for those who perhaps use us as role models. What kind of example are we delivering to those in different countries, perhaps using and learning English from the Donline?
Finally, your solution for the schools is going to deal with the problems we are now facing. Sorting out under-resourced and under-developed schools is the right idea, and surely must be non-negotiable, but then that will only affect those school kids who benefit from the improvements when and if they are made. It does not, and will not, address the problems of poor discipline that exist currently.
This brings me back to the points that I, and many others, have made before. The primary problem is a lack of discipline in the home environment. The secondary problem is a lack of discipline in our educational resources.
Until these two points are effectively addressed, I think that all the interventions, engagements and remedies we put forward are doomed to failure.
I
June 27th, 2008 - 12:24
What Isee is that we are dis-agreeing to agree Gandalf because I was talking of the education system as the prime producer of il-disciplined people maily because there is “lack of discipline in our educational resources”( quoting you). This as I have suggested is because of the 300 years of colonisalism and exploitation and that needs to be addreed so that it is contained from spreading to other institutions which were formally white. Also you have said that there is lack of discipline in the family and I agree with you on this and what I have suggested also to this was that because the poor are very poor they have lost their “self contecption” and lost hope even ingovernment and politics and have now resorted to drinking and are setting a bad example for their kids. So I was suggesting we solve this problem first and deal with others later.
June 27th, 2008 - 14:28
Hey Happy Expat!! my favorite dude Stentor!! and the rest of your pack!They say if you liedown with the dogs you get with the fleas, but I think I have taken it upon myself to diffuse your supremacist attitude so other bloggers can blog
without harm from you the cyber KKK. So I guess I have to deal with the fleas later.
Keep the spirit of the debate going Jazzman while I keep these skinheads at bay.
Well done Stentor, that was a good description of the DSM you came up with and you copied it verbatim no doubt. But note this for the future, Dr and Psychiatrists do not give patients books to read. Especially such a voluminous one.
How did you guys find the idea of starting a rock n roll band? the name I suggested fits you very well and I am sure you would draw crowds of idiots like you with that name. Amazing-S-Holes!!!!
& to good bloggers, enjoy the rest of the week!
June 27th, 2008 - 15:01
Uthink… youre over rating your self. You cant keep a pack a garden gnomes with toothpics at bay.
You could’nt debate a topic if you were given notes
June 27th, 2008 - 15:13
After reading this blog from end to end I have only this to say: What has this all got to do with the state of our schools?
Perhaps Andrew could start a blog entitled: South Africa and Africa today – who is to blame? I would recommend Martin Meredith’s latest book, The State of Africa as compulsory reading prior to comment.
A lot of time and space has been wasted here trying to establish who is the biggest racist and precious little on solving the problem, which ironically, effects all our kids, black and white! Maybe a little less playground style “it’s your fault! No! It’s your fault!” and a little more educated factual debate.
Okay class, you can go home now.
June 27th, 2008 - 15:24
Depending on who gave me the notes Gadie!
Ciou.
June 27th, 2008 - 16:10
Hate to say it but I have to agree with you Hoff….
June 27th, 2008 - 16:28
Who is the twit who keeps referring to Greenpoint High School as a ‘former model C white school’? Your facts are wrong, and now you make a noise about debating the point and not attacking the person. debate, debate, debate – learn how to spell before coming to join the debate…
June 27th, 2008 - 16:38
hasslehof and other users of foul language – please try to increase your vocabulary so that you don’t have to fall back on swearing in order to express yourselves – children read this blog too and you wouldn’t want to be bad examples to them, would you?
June 27th, 2008 - 17:35
Realist, I agree with you about the language issue and have removed hasslehof’s last post which is inappropriate.
June 27th, 2008 - 17:44
Judy, I almost missed your comment. Kindly note that it is inappropriate to refer to people with mental illness with the word you used in your comment. They may suffer a psychotic disorder, but they are human beings with value nonetheless. Also, like your valued friends Stentor, Gadget, & the likes, note that the DSM IV is a manual used to assess using the criteria given and asign a diagnosis to a person presenting with a mental health issue. Therefore Dr would prescribe a manual to his patient now please. Before you vaunt your twisted wisdow, go get your facts straight.
June 27th, 2008 - 17:50
Oh I meant to say no Dr would prescribe a manual to their patients. My apologies for the typo. I guess its all due to the foul language used on this blog.
June 27th, 2008 - 20:15
Oh Honey! I’m home!
But seriously, have you seen what’s on SABC tonight? Sheer unadulterated rubbish. I’m convinced its all a plot to force everyone to buy satellite TV subscriptions. So, until the London 46664 Concert is broadcast, plenty of time for blogging.
Noni, clarify a point for me, please. The DSM IV-whatever is a manual the Doctors use to classify and diagnose the affliction the patient suffers from, do I understand correctly? It’s not something that the doc’s would actually give to the patient themselves. (That’s assuming the patient isn’t suffering from kleptomania, of course.)
Andrew, thanks for the editing. No, people, it’s not censorship, it’s editing. Where is chirper anyway when you need him?
jazzman, I’m trying to get the guys together for the band practice but they keep telling me they’re too busy blogging, driving sherman tanks, and installing plumbing systems to practise. So I have a bit of a problem there. I’ll keep at them and will let you know wht happens. Just one thing, I’m tld that we can have blues, gospel, hard rock, kwaito – but no Jazz! I’m not sure what their aversion is caused by.
Andrew, I read back up to the top of this blogg and I hear our concern about your daughters education a number of years down the line. Look, we’re 15 years into the New South Africa, and we’re still nowhere near to fixing many of the things that need fixing. How close can we realistically expect to be in “only” another 10 years? At one stage, I would have suggested Independent Schools if you have the independent means that will be needed to afford them, because like some other bloggers, I believe that until we fix ALL the schools the situation at some of the currently reputable ones will become worse.
The other alternative is, of course, Home Schooling, but how many of us are prepared to invest the resources, above all, the time that is required? How many of us have the level of education, or a prepared to become educated to the level educating our children will require?
Life’s a beyatch, sometimes, isn’t it?