The German International School (Deutsche Schule Kapstadt) in Cape Town is the latest school to find itself in hot water after a teacher at the private institution allegedly told students that “black children do not have role models because their fathers are in jail and their mothers are prostitutes”.
Parents are picketing outside the German International School CT after a teacher allegedly said that black people are uneducated because they have no role models, their mothers are prostitutes and fathers drunkards and rapists. The teacher was suspended then reinstated again pic.twitter.com/Crgsr7CcdD
— Veve (@LudidiVelani) June 14, 2021
Fed up parents and students have since decided to protest, calling for the teacher to be fired or to resign, News24 reports.
A learner mentioned that during a Grade 11 Life Orientation class, the teacher conducted a lesson on a “social experiment” which involved 20 “low income” children who were sent to an exclusive school. The teacher added that only three of the 20 students passed, he said.
“She never cited any sources and then at the end, she said that only three of the students who were put into the school eventually passed because they have no role models.”
“The main thing she said is that only three managed to pass, which she then blamed on the fact that they have no role models because their fathers are all locked up in prison and their mothers are all prostitutes.
“She was specifically referring [to the] 20 low income kids that were put in the school,” he added.
According to News24, the headmaster, Alexander P Kirmse agreed that the remarks were considered discriminatory and assured that the school’s management not only temporarily suspended the teacher but also initiated disciplinary proceedings against her, as deemed fit by the school’s policy.
“The disciplinary hearing was chaired by an external labour law expert and statements from the students and teacher were presented. Counselling was made available to the students.
“The school has followed all the recommendations in the report compiled by the independent expert.
“The [school] is committed to the dignified and fair treatment of everyone within the school community irrespective of colour, race, ethnic or national origin, language, social class, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, religious beliefs, conscience, pregnancy, family responsibility, marital or health status.
“We do not tolerate any violations of these fundamental principles,” Kirmse added.
Kirmse also said that diversity and inclusion are “integral and essential pillars of the German International School,” The South African writes.
However, the same student, who is part of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), claimed that the teacher was only suspended for a week, and said that: “They never openly said she was suspended. And after that week, they said appropriate remedies or measures were taken then she was placed back in the school, which didn’t help anything.”
“This has been going on for a while with this specific teacher. So it has become evident to the student body that no amount of counselling will work. So they are demanding that she either resigns or be removed,” he added.
Picture: Western Cape Government / Twitter