#StJohnsCollege: South Africans react to racist teacher

Joburg’s prestigious St Johns College has found the ire of South African Twitter after failing to remove a teacher found guilty of racist misconduct.

Geography teacher Keith Arlow underwent an internal investigation where he was found to have consistently undermined black students’ intelligence, labelled Indian students “Nawab” and called Greek students “dirty”. He was punished with a final written warning.

Parents of the discriminated students told Huffington Post (which broke the story) that they are unhappy with the how the school dealt with the issue and want more than just a promise of “healing”.

Twitter believes much the same. Just a few hours after the story broke, #stjohnscollege was the top trending topic in the country, with many calling for Arlow’s removal.

So #stjohnscollege you’re really going to allow him to remain a member of your staff??!!? pic.twitter.com/wtSt9DQDCh

— Kgomotso (@KgomotsoModise_) July 27, 2017

‘Well done, you’re thinking like a white boy now’ 😳#StJohnsCollege shame on you for retaining this teacher! pic.twitter.com/CLAVNwx7gt

— MaManyama Modiegi (@ModiegiTheo) July 27, 2017

If the #stjohnscollege allegations are true, Arlow had best pack his bags. Racists have no place teaching South Africa’s future leaders.

— Jonathan Meyer (@jonathangmeyer) July 27, 2017

Among them were alumni who said they were well aware of the school’s racism problem. Former deputy head prefect Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh said that his proposal for an anti-racism policy was denied by the school.

Statement Re: Teacher Found Guilty of Gross Racial Misconduct. #OpenStJohns pic.twitter.com/xbAYvwULYy

— Waheed Vadi (@WaheedVadi) July 28, 2017

I’m told St John’s College is protecting teacher found guilty of shameful racial abuse. This must stop. We must #OpenStJohns#StJohnsRacism

— Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh (@SizweMpofuWalsh) July 27, 2017

The incident adds to South Africa’s growing list of school’s embroiled in a race crisis. On Monday, Kempton Park school Windsor House Academy came under fire for kicking girls out of school because their hair was in braids — despite the nationwide anger last year at schools like Sans Souci and Pretoria High School for doing the same.

You are shocked that a white school didn’t fire a white teacher over racist comments, yall are special #stjohnscollege

— Kwabena (@LynetteBlqpearl) July 27, 2017

One Twitter user thought it best to take matters into his own hands.

Thinking of opening a private school that will cripple the likes of #stjohnscollege … Any other (Black) shareholders? 😊

— Tumisang Kalagobe (@_Tumi10) July 28, 2017

According to EWN, Arlow has left the school, but it is unclear whether he was fired or if he resigned.

[JUST IN] #stjohnscollege A teacher found guilty of racism at the school has now left his job with immediate effect. TK

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 28, 2017

The news elicited some relief, but others wanted to know how situations like this would be avoided in the future.

What about the headmaster and his chomies who tried to save him?

— Jonathan (@Rasimione) July 28, 2017

May he be banned from ever being an educator. #stjohnscollege

— Skroef Magwaza (@pholo890) July 28, 2017

It’s about time that the education department as a whole hold a symposium of some sort regarding racism @Lesufi #stjohnscollege

— Katlego Semusa (@semusakatlego) July 28, 2017