South Africa and racism

South Africa has been an example to the world since 1994 on how to deal with different races and so-called racism. This is of course from the rest of the world's point of view.

 

However, the latest issue coming up in South Africa is that a year service may be in the pipeline for new teachers. Teachers are already so well under-paid in South Africa; now with this service year, it will even be worse. I have a major issue with this idea, but that is not what this blog message is about.

 

Racism is alive and well in South Africa. Even in the department of education. Education director-general Duncan Hindle yesterday said one issue in South African education is the "whitening" of the education profession. "Whitening?" One would think that after the big hoo-haa of the "first" democratic elections in South Africa in 1994 that after 11 years of "democracy" statements like these would be on the decrease. Yet, it seems to me that their is no waning of the racist card! Hindle said an increasing number of mainly white female students had studied teaching in the past couple of years. For this he wants some type of balance. The fact is that he is simply making racist comments. If they wanted balance they should have thought of making teaching a viable profession. It is almost impossible for a teacher on his or her own to make a living in this country. Housing and cars are ridiculously expensive while household goods like food and appliances just keep on growing in price. Public transport still remains a dangerous option to consider.

 

With the government's push of people of "colour" above "whites" in many high powered positions, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that someone with no heart for the education of children would want to sit with 40 children--not one's own--with the little pay that teachers are getting. A woman of "colour" would rather go where there is better pay, since she is likely to get such a position instead of the "whiteys," than live on the edge of survival!

 

It takes someone with a heart for children and their education to put up with the hardships of teaching 40 undisciplined children and low pay. I do not know about the ideas of black women, but among white women, teaching has always been a profession of honour and most of these women had a heart for teaching children.

 

Instead of racist remarks like Hindle's, it would be better to give parents the tools of bringing up their children with a love for other people, and so create a culture of wanting to see our children grow up better educated. In this way, among all race groups, youngsters might once again reconsider the profession of teaching, since they would have a heart for others and see the benefits of teaching children.

 

It is time to stop preferring one race over another. As a nation South Africa should work together to create a people that can live together in harmony with high levels of tolerance. By looking for quotas in the workplace, hate will be engendered in the hearts of those who are losing out in the deal. It simply means that not all people are equal in the eyes of the law.

 

The question is: "Does the current ANC government see all its people as equal, or do they with some slight of hand make some people more equal than others?"

 

Just thinking...