South Africa: Constitutional Assembly Resources

23rd May 1995

l. Children 2. Anthem 3. Flag

1. I listen to a phone in programme and the subject was "children". They were discussed so impersonally. My personal experience recently with a five year old girl and a seven year old boy who visited me after school and were in my company for three to four hours has made me realise how soon they became BORED and how boredom can lead to naughtiness.

Why can’t school hours be extended to 4:30pm? Children these days are much more aware & knowledgeable. The five year old kept saying "I'm bored". Is there no music I like on the radio? I was sorry to tell her there was no music for children on our radio programmes because the man in charge thinks that all children like to watch T V. He knows this because a survey was done in Australia which showed that children do not listen to radio.

NB: "The reason blamed for child crime is T V. So tell me what do children do when they come home from school? Mom is working, dad is working, a maid is too expensive & grandma is getting old & tired. Lets get down to basics. What is the answer. Definitely longer school hours to keep these children occupied. "Satan finds things for idle hands to do".

With my five year old, I had her cutting out pictures, drawing, playing house, taking her for walks teaching her gardening but she wanted more & more to do. The seven year old played......... looked at books, played ball but he wanted the company of other boys not his sister and an elderly lady!!

2. I like the combined national anthem.

3. Please don't change our flag.

J. Burke (67 years old)