parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

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that of being a counsellor. A principal is expected to be able to counsel
pupils on a variety of matters. This involves recognising and
understanding needs and problems, listening, giving advice, making
recommendations and solving problems. The education provided by the
school must be in harmony with the spirit and character of the home. The
school must build on the foundations laid by the family and must strive to
attain the same general educational goal. It must instil acceptable
principles and values and teach the child to put them into practice. In the
case of a Christian child, this would mean the inculcation of Christian
norms and values (cfA.2.1).
2.30 Almost halfofthe parents (49,5 %) disagreed that the principal has assumed
accountability in helping to guide their ch;ldren towards adulthood.
Whereas in the home, education usually takes place spontaneously,
intuitively and informally, education in the school is carried out in a
formal, purposeful, differentiated and specialised manner by professionally­
trained persons. However, formal instruction at school is and remains a
continuation of the educational basis laid by the parental home (Louw (ed.),
1983:46). A school is a secondary human design which came about
because parents no longer felt fully competent to accomplish their
educational task. The fact that parents are empowered to legally delegate
certain rights and duties, renders the principal accountable to guide the
children towards responsible adulthood (cfA.3.4(3». Consequently it is of
the utmost importance that the principal should know and respect the norms
and values endorsed both at home and in the community (Munnik &
Swanepoel, 1990:82-83).
2.31 Most of the parents (89,5) agreed that only when parents are prepared to
discipline their children will the culture of learning be restored. Discipline
is necessary to maintain a certain standard ofsocial conformity so that the