Abstract:
In an increasingly violent society, South African secondary school educators
often need to manage violent learners. In the context of a challenging and
uniquely South African educational environment, managing this escalating
violence often leaves educators battling to cope with increasing demands for
learner performance in the midst of an inherited culture of violence and intimidation
that spills over into the classroom. We attempt to explore, from an
interpretive perspective, the experiences of an educator in a violence-affected
educational setting. This includes the educator’s perceptions of the causes,
nature and results of violence. The article also unveils the educator's emotional
experience and her perceptions of what contributes to the violence.
