’n Ondersoek na die rol van erkenning van deugde van leerders in die vestiging van ’n demokratiese, multi-kulturele samelewing

Abstract

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As an educator and principal of a public secondary school, I am convinced that every learner’s school career is influenced by the extent to which teachers give recognition to each individual learner and how well teachers, parents and the peer group know the learner. It remains important that every learner completes his/her school career successfully. The goal of every school therefore should be that the teaching and learning processes take place in the context of knowledge acquisition, as well as the personal circumstances of each learner. The learner must, however, comply with certain minimum assessment standards to complete his or her school career successfully. This means that the education policies and authorities, as well as the schools and the methods of teaching and learning, form an integral part of the learner’s education. This research study therefore also refers to the curriculum and the establishment of values and virtues. This study of the role of recognition of the learner’s positive traits may serve as a valuable guideline when examining the reasons or factors why learners are unable to meet the minimum requirements to complete their school careers. As a consequence of this, the involvement of parents concerning their children's completion of a school career, as well as the necessary knowledge, support and understanding of their children, may serve as a motivation for further studies at colleges, universities and other tertiary institutions world-wide. Insight into and recognition of a learner’s personal circumstances and needs may also serve as encouragement for the learner to complete his or her school career. When teachers show positive recognition and understanding of learners’ positive traits, it may inspire learners to not merely be satisfied with the minimum criteria or achievements. After completion of their school careers these learners may well continue to try to live up to these high standards and values and may make a valuable contribution to the establishment and promotion of a healthy democracy.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As opvoeder en skoolhoof van ’n openbare sekondêre skool is dit vir my duidelik dat elke leerder se skoolloopbaan beïnvloed word deur die individuele erkenning aan asook kennis van ’n leerder deur die onderwysers, ouers en portuurgroep. Dit bly belangrik dat elke leerder sy/haar skoolloopbaan suksesvol voltooi. Enige skool se doelwit moet dus die onderrig en leer van sy leerders wees, in die konteks van kennisverwerwing en menswees. Die leerder moet egter aan minimum assesseringstandaarde voldoen om sy/haar skoolloopbaan suksesvol te voltooi. Dus is die onderwysbeleid, -owerhede, skole en die wyse waarop leer en onderrig plaasvind, ’n integrale deel van die leerder se opvoeding en word daar in hierdie navorsingstudie ook na die kurrikulum en die vestiging van waardes en deugde verwys. Hierdie studie oor die rol van erkenning aan die leerder wat deugde betref, kan as waardevolle riglyn dien wanneer na redes of faktore gesoek word waarom leerders nie aan die minimum vereistes kan voldoen om hulle skoolloopbaan te voltooi nie. Voortvloeiend hieruit kan die betrokkenheid van ouers ten opsigte van die voltooiing van ’n skoolloopbaan in die onderwys, met die nodige kennis, ondersteuning en begrip vir hul kinders as motivering dien vir verdere studie aan universiteite, kolleges en ander tersiêre inrigtings regoor die wêreld. Insig in en erkenning van die leerder se persoonlike omstandighede en behoeftes kan ook as aansporing dien in die voltooiing van die leerder se skoolloopbaan. Wanneer die onderwyser positiewe erkenning gee aan en begrip toon vir leerders se deugde, kan dit moontlik lei tot leerders wat nie bloot met die minimum kriteria en prestasies tevrede sal wees nie. Na die voltooiing van ’n suksesvolle skoolloopbaan mag hierdie leerders hul hoë standaarde bly nastreef en hul waardes so uitleef dat hulle as goeie landsburgers ’n positiewe rol speel in die handhawing en uitbou van ’n gesonde demokrasie.