parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

[ 15 1
2.2 PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE PUPILS
According to Booyse, Dednam, Du Toit, Landsberg & Van Wyk (1994:50-60);
Vorster & Van der Spuy (1995:62); Van Niekerk & Meier (1995:73-75); Smith
(1996:6-7); De ViIliers (1997:76-81) and Urbani (1997: 17) the following are the
problems concerning the pupils that have led to the collapse in the culture of
learning:
* Lack ofa proper foundation of knowledge and study habits. They lack,
*
*
*
*
for example, basic numeracy and literacy skills. They lack knowledge of
how to study and how to write exams. Most children are not ready for
school when they enter the first grade. They have therefore built up a
backlog over twelve years. Some of the reasons for this deprived situation
are:
o
o
deprived home environment, e.g.lack of books and intellectual
stimulation; and
automatic promotion in many schools.
A limited language code and a limited ability to express themselves.
Lack of a work ethic in pupils. A culture of doing the minimum to pass
exists among most black pupils. The majority of pupils do not know what
it means to work hard over a prolonged period, partly because they lack a
comparative example of how much study is needed to pass well. Their
study input is fragmented, uncoordinated and uncommitted.
An apparent lack of the ability to concentrate in class exists.
Pupils display a lack of self-discipline to study and to be punctual for
school and for classes.