stuck trying to clearLayout

local function removeElements(_elementGroup)
    print ("_elementGroup")
    atrace (_elementGroup)
    local i = _elementGroup.numChildren
    while i > 0 do
        _elementGroup[i]:removeSelf()
        i = i - 1
        print ('removing stuff')
    end
    _elementGroup:removeSelf()
end

local function clearLayout()

    print ("I am here doing nothing")

    atrace (groups['TextAnnouncement2'])
    --removeElements(groups['TextAnnouncement2'])