Shocking footage of Manurewa High School girls fighting each other went viral on social media. Photo / iStock
It has been a challenging week at Manurewa High School.
When the news broke of a group of our girls behaving badly, I was attending a Principals' Conference, listening to a presentation by Lisa Rodgers, Deputy Secretary of Education.
Lisa's topic: The performance data of South Auckland schools.
In clear detail, she was outlining the 'impressive gains' that South Auckland schools had generated for their students.
'This hasn't happened by chance,' she stated.
'It has been through focused, purposeful, and deliberate action."
Lisa's right. Ironically, the Deputy Secretary also related how even though she has delivered this information in variety of venues, it has never made news: 90 seconds of stupidity makes the news; years of positive gains feature rarely.
READ MORE: Brutal brawl between South Auckland school girls caught on camera
It has been humbling to watch the reactions of our own student and teacher population to the events of the past week.
Many of the 2000 students at Manurewa High were disgusted at the behaviour of a foolish group.
They were also visibly upset about the type and amount of publicity that was given to this event.
Among the many responses, the Facebook post of one Manurewa student, Sulani Helg encapsulates what many students voiced, and I think, too, raises some important questions for us as a community.
Said Sulani: 'At the end of the day, individuals who choose to participate in rebellious acts reflect their own decisions and intentions.
'You cannot define or discriminate against them because of what school they attend or community they live in. You cannot belittle Manurewa if you don't understand what it's like to grow up in Manurewa. Despite this aggravating incident, I am still proud of where I come from. Because it ABSOLUTELY does not define WHO I AM. This is because I know countless of inspiring young people who are out there challenging the current stereotype of an illiterate, uneducated, gang banging South Auckland teenager. Guess what? They are doing a hell of a good job. Fulfilling their dreams, reaching their goals and succeeding!
'I know that there are a portion of youth who feel that this is all fun and games, as their egos and pride have consumed their minds. But don't forget about the rest us who are working hard every day, changing society's expectations, fulfilling dreams to become doctors, teachers, politicians etc. Our kids do have dreams.
'But we are not going to sit here allowing people to generalise us because of something that basically happens around the world every day. Which has, in my eyes, received a lot of unnecessary media attention. I feel that there are more important issues in the world that we should all focus on, like the current Syria refugee crisis, or the genocide that is happening right now in West Papua and even climate change for crying out loud.
'What I am trying to convey is that, negative stereotypes are always going to be an issue everywhere - Whenever something happens which brings those stereotypes to life, then people are eager to pay attention. But when those stereotypes are broken, the value of it becomes a shadow and people turn a blind eye.
'#WakeUpWorld'
Ironically, media who trawl through Facebook to find a story did not consider Sulani's post relevant. And that is just the point.
As a community, we often have little idea of the poverty trap. I have served as a principal in Nelson, Dubai, even Tanzania.
Yet, until I came to Manurewa High School, I didn't really comprehend, either.
Poverty is not being short of money this week; poverty is being in survival mode, year in and year out.
Poverty is never knowing if you can remain in the place you are living in next week; it is never being sure there will be enough money to feed your children; say nothing of yourself. When you are in that mode, personal strength is all you have left.
It is the same personal strength our students muster to pass assessments, to meet challenges they face at home and at school. It is that same strength our teachers draw on to support them through the vicissitudes of life, walking the journey with them.
Yes, there are times when students do dumb things - we have seen examples of this in the media over the past year from a range of schools - yet, underneath, the Sulani's of this world and the thousands of South Auckland students just like her, are breaking stereotypes.
Because they can, because they must, because they have determined to.
After fundraising for a year, this week three groups of Manurewa High School students are travelling overseas: one group is going to Samoa to spend time in a school that has asked for help; another group leave for Cambodia to contribute to villages and communities; and a third to represent New Zealand at the world Waka Ama championships.
These young men and women from South Auckland will not receive nor expect media recognition; but in their hearts they know they are doing their bit to paint the real picture of Manurewa High School, and the deeper character of our young people, today.
Salvatore Gargiulo is the principal at Manurewa High School
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