Just a hop, skip and a SMACK!?

Her fine hair is intricately being portioned to give way to the French plait that mommy is making in Thembi's hair.  Her heart bubbles at the thought of seeing her friends today! AND it's her birthday! Thembi is very excited.  Off she goes with a hop, skip and a jump to school.  She feels proud of herself because she is looking so neat and tidy. 


She arrives (happily) at class.  She passed 'totsies' along the way and they didn't hurt her so she was happy to arrive and see her friends.  They knew it was her birthday and some had brought her some wilted flowers that they had picked.  They had also walked to school. 


She waited in the line for the toilet.  There were only two working one's.  She waited and waited.  She waited patiently.  She was trying to wait patiently at least.  She noticed that her friend in front of her had colourful bobbles in her hair.  So she touched them and played with them.  Next thing the disciplinarian shoved past her with a stick in hand.  The stick looked like a sword to Thembi something she'd seen in the fairy tales. 


A hit and a smack on Thembi's legs.  She hadn't meant to hit Thembi.  In fact the disciplinarian hadn't meant to hurt any of the children but the uncontrollable anger inside when let out for a second didn't reason.  If only the 'disciplinarian' knew the emotional damage she was causing.  If only she knew.  Her heart was good.  Thembi felt misunderstood but it was her birthday so she continued to keep a smile on her face. 


Thembi kept the smile on her face and the slowing appearing slash marks on her legs that day of her birthday.  She was hoping for a different kind of fuss was going to be made today.  She hoped her teacher would remember that TODAY is her BIRTHDAY.  The children lined up and came into class.  Being as well behaved as a 6 year old can.  The teacher continued blowing her whistle, screaming, smacking the kids and completely bypassed the day of the week, the weather...let alone the birthdays.


This is a normal day in Eastern Cape Schools in South Africa.
Let me know if you can help the crisis we are in. 


Teachers use corporal punishment as a form of discipline even when it is illegal.  Teachers are committing crimes every single day.  These teachers who are supposed to be role models are actually criminals who physically abuse children. 


What should be a hop, skip and a jump for kids becomes a hop, skip and a SMACK on their legs, hands, arms, where ever the teacher can get to!


Lets show love to every person we know.
Lets show love to every kid we know.
Lets stand against this and show alternative ways to discipline.  For the teachers out there: keep yourself in check before you try and keep an innocent child in check.


Love,
budding teacher
Sarah