I am astonished that there is so much misguided support for the miscreants from Parktown Boys' High School.
The perpetrators and their parents don't seem to understand the seriousness of the act, thinking that they themselves are the victims.
In taking their cue from old boys and parents, the accused are totally unrepentant - which no doubt the magistrate will take into ac-count when the case is heard.
I fully support the action taken against them by Mrs Kimber.
The thinking that this type of brutal initiation breeds men out of the boys and builds character, is utter rubbish. All it teaches the boys (apart from humiliation) is that it hurts to be struck with clubs, sticks and bats, and that bullying is acceptable.
What makes the school think their so-called tradition is above the law? A headmaster is prohibited from the tradition of caning pupils by law. What makes it right for the headmaster's students to take up that forfeited right?
It is clearly illegal and is nothing more than thuggery. What happened is Parktown's equivalent of Kamp Staaldraad - plus some.
There is already enough violence in our society without it being actively encouraged in schools.
If the parents think that this initiation and in-timidation is acceptable, it lays the ideal groundwork for their sons to enter into a satisfying career of nightclub bouncers.
The school's headmaster is obviously weak. He lacks the ability or will to effect change and guide his new scholars in more constructive ways of initiation.
In spite of his claim that he has done everything he could to punish the boys, the boys show no remorse for their actions.
And the slap-on-the-wrist punishment they were given has clearly not delivered the required message.
A better way to build character is to develop leadership courses and engage in organised mentoring and team-building. Thousands of businesses in South Africa and across the world do this to improve morale and build better individuals.
At least they would have learnt something of value that they could take forward into their adult lives.
What should happen to the perpetrators? I think they are also victims of a system, brainwashed to believe that because it is a tradition, their actions are acceptable and right.
Nevertheless, what they did was wrong and they should learn to face the consequences of their actions.
A suspended punishment would be appropriate, with some Friday night and Saturday community work at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital casualty section - then they can learn about violence from another perspective.
Mike Prior
Joburg
No comments:
Post a Comment