Allow me to comment on the Pene Kimber saga, with particular reference to some of the letters that condemn her actions (The Star June 5).
While it is regrettable that Kimber's actions might result in a criminal record for the Grade 12 pupils, her actions stem from her perception that the punishment meted out to them by the school in question was inadequate. Further, the Gauteng Education Department's alleged tardiness in dealing decisively with this incident at the school must have contributed in no small way to her actions.
What I find disconcerting is the viciousness of the attacks on her person by Waynne Woolls and Alan Murray.
Both writers also accuse The Star of sensationalism.
Would they have reacted in this manner if The Star had exposed corruption or malfeasance in the government with the same zeal?
What I find particularly disturbing about Woolls's letter is that he implicitly condones such barbaric conduct that he refers to euphemistically as "initiations".
It seems that the abuse he once endured as a full-time boarder has had its desired effect on him to the point that he genuflects to authority and seems offended by anyone who has the courage to do otherwise.
Both Woolls and Murray have great praise for "fine" schools such as Parktown Boys which produce excellent results and turn out such "fine" young men in South Africa.
This country has a humane constitution that places emphasis on the dignity of the individual. For far too long institutions such as the schools, the army, rugby clubs and even religious institutions have smothered individuality at the expense of crushing conformity to some greater good - for what it's worth.
Fine institutions may turn out fine young men, but when these men do not know the difference between barbaric and civilised conduct, or worse still, do not know how to use their fine minds to think out of the box of their narrow conformity to some dubious creed or ethic, then we are simply turning out fine young cannibals (and I don't mean the famous pop group).
Prof Harry Sewlall
North-West University (Mafikeng Campus)
Former Inspector of Schools, Gauteng
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