Grade 3 learner: "One day I am going to be a gangster..."
A Grade 3 learner's activity sheet answer has raised concerns within the community and the Department of Education.
When we think of our youthful primary school learners, we rarely think about gangsterism.
However, that is a reality that we have to factor in this day and age when gangsterism is painted as something of a glorified life to the youth. This was evident when a screengrab of a Grade 3 learner's activity sheet made the community feel uneasy.
The young child was asked: "Write a personal narration of five sentences about what you want to do one day and why you want to do it.”
Where we would usually expect to hear a child say something like doctor, vet, astronaut, teacher or a host of other occupations, this learner said, "gangster".
The answer: "One day I am going to be a gangster and hold a gun in my hand. I am going to be a gangster and smuggle guns in my house.”
"Spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Bronagh Hammond, said they are not exposing the school's name to protect the child." (IOL)
During a class activity, Hammond confirmed that this answer was from a student in one of their primary schools in the Western Cape.
He said it was "heartbreaking to see that such a young learner could aspire to something like this". Children are influenced by those around them and even though the department wants to instil confidence and value into their learners, they cannot do it alone.
"We of course cannot do it alone. Parents have a major role to play in shaping their child’s personality, character, habits, and emotional development. However, if the parents are not present, uninterested, abusive or lead negatively by example, this can have a negative effect on children." (IOL)
Pastor Leon Jacobs, a former gangster, said: "What draws children to the system (gangsterism) is the attention they get from the street, which is supposed to come from a biological parent, now that child feels obligated towards the streets. The first people to target him are the local gang in his community." (IOL)
He believes that intervention should come in the form of showing the kids what gangsterism can lead to. In other words, taking kids to jail cells and/or youth development centres, so they can see the effects of gangsterism.
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Image Courtesy of iStock