Maart 2013: jaargang 10, nommer 1 - LitNet

LitNet Akademies Jaargang 10 (1), Maart 2013
nor the parents or the learners (initially) were ready for change. However, 18 years after the
democratisation of education it appears as if members of the community, parents, educators
and learners still clash because of deep-rooted racial prejudice. However, racial tension is no
longer presented as the root cause of school violence. The apparent decline in racial conflict
is probably not only a reflection of what really happens at schools, but also an indication of
changes in Rapport's readership profile and editorial policy.
Theme 6: The “we are not like that” discourse. In a theme extending across all three levels of
the ecosystemic model the authors of articles, or those who have conducted interviews with
them, distance themselves from the violence or from what is, in their view, unacceptable
behaviour. This could lead to an apathetic attitude towards school violence among the
readership.
Theme 7: School violence is violent. By describing incidents pertaining to school violence in
detail, and the use of words belonging to the lexical register of criminality and
anarchy, Rapport leaves little room for doubt with the reader: school violence at South
African schools involves extremely violent criminal offences. Some of the reports emphasise
that violent crimes are often committed in cold blood. Furthermore, the reports emphasise the
fact that the violent actions not only influence the teaching and learning milieu, but also
jeopardise the safety of the communities in which the schools are situated.
Theme 8: The situation is out of control. With emotionally charged words, suggestions that
school violence is on the increase and the fact that no school is safeguarded against school
violence, and by pointing out the inability of role players to keep this violence in
check, Rapport conveys the message the school violence in South Africa has spiralled out of
control. This could lead to a fear psychosis among the readership.
Reports about school violence that have appeared in Rapport portray a comprehensive image
of school violence in South Africa. This study confirms once again that school violence is a
complex, multidimensional social problem which cannot be limited to a single ecosystem.
Government policy, community values and factors, education structures, educators, parents
and learners are in constant interaction as sources of, but also victims of, school violence.
However, lack of contextualisation and the emphasis on the sensational could lead to a
twisted view of school violence and panic among readers. Readers and researchers should,
therefore, display a critical attitude towards the media as sources of information. Although
one could assume that Rapport will not wilfully publish false or twisted information, news
reports represent the editor’s and/or journalists’ unobjective, interpreted version of events.
This article is the first South African research publication that reports on how a single media
source has reported on a single, complex social problem over a relatively long period. The
study offers a fresh view on research about school violence: a complex problem is studied
through the lens of a source of information focused on the here and now.
Key words: content analysis; newspapers; Rapport; school violence; South Africa
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