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Original poster

Teacher teaching my DC6 about apartheid - AIBU

69 replies

Stargazingmummy · 19/01/2025 21:28

So my recently turned 6 year old told me that his teacher told him white people and black people were treated differently in Africa and that white people were treated better.
It's important my son learns about the world but at an appropriate age. My son has never identified people by colour and now suddenly he is aware of people's skin colour.
I am furious!!! And will be speaking to the headteacher Monday.
AIBU?

OP posts:
joliefolle · 19/01/2025 21:39

Stop trying to create drama and parent your child.

IAmAWomanWorkingFromHome · 19/01/2025 21:38

So my recently turned 6 year old told me that his teacher told him white people and black people were treated differently in Africa and that white people were treated better. you dropped the rope there. Of course a 6 year old knows that people have different skin colours.

Landlubber2019 · 19/01/2025 21:38

When is an appropriate time to introduce this conversation to a child? It seems the conversation was factual and age appropriate.

You are frankly being ridiculous and you need to support your child in understanding the struggles of others.

Musicalmistress · 19/01/2025 21:38

Stargazingmummy · 19/01/2025 21:28

So my recently turned 6 year old told me that his teacher told him white people and black people were treated differently in Africa and that white people were treated better.
It's important my son learns about the world but at an appropriate age. My son has never identified people by colour and now suddenly he is aware of people's skin colour.
I am furious!!! And will be speaking to the headteacher Monday.
AIBU?

Did she, aye?

adviceneeded1990 · 19/01/2025 21:37

Presuming you are in the UK, he’s 6 and a part of the KS1 history curriculum is to be taught about “historic events beyond living memory both
nationally and globally”. KS1 is for 5-7 year old children. What exactly do you think the head is going to do, sack the teacher for doing her job?

NewJobNewMeNewLife · 19/01/2025 21:37

i think not discussing skin colour has been done by you with the best of intentions but the children need to learn about the world we live in.
sometimes at school children younger than your dc can make racist remarks- either unwittingly or which they’ve picked up from home. The fact your child is a certain way, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a reason the teacher is talking about this in class.,

yabvu

GCAcademic · 19/01/2025 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

GoodVibesHere · 19/01/2025 21:36

Shock, horror, a teacher is educating your child.

DanceMumTaxi · 19/01/2025 21:36

Fuck me, and people wonder why there is a recruitment and retention crisis in teaching. The teacher has done absolutely nothing wrong here and you’ve got nothing to be furious about.

fashionqueen0123 · 19/01/2025 21:35

Is this a joke? Please don’t do that.

I read a children’s book about Rosa Parks to my 5 year old. She said why were those people so mean mummy!

Why shouldn’t children know about this stuff?!

ThatsNotMyTeen · 19/01/2025 21:34

What are you furious about?

has your son never seen a person of colour before?

napody · 19/01/2025 21:34

My little sister's year 1 teacher came to my mum moved almost to tears. Show and tell- my sister's 'tell' was that Nelson Mandela had just been freed. The lovely teacher explained to the rest of the class, and asked my sister to write it down for her to keep. Lovely lady.

YABU.

RoundSquareWithTriangles · 19/01/2025 21:34

It is annoying when your child learns something a little earlier than you'd choose as their parent.

However, objectively, the teacher has done nothing wrong.

Newuser75 · 19/01/2025 21:33

I don't see anything wrong with this at all.
I've had conversations about racism with my 5 year old. Not apartheid admittedly but they need to learn sometime.
As long as it was done in an age appropriate manner I'd be fine with this.

Icanttakethisanymore · 19/01/2025 21:32

Sounds fine to me. It happened, no need to lie, just keep it age appropriate, which is sounds like it was.

ExtraOnions · 19/01/2025 21:32

Stargazingmummy · 19/01/2025 21:28

So my recently turned 6 year old told me that his teacher told him white people and black people were treated differently in Africa and that white people were treated better.
It's important my son learns about the world but at an appropriate age. My son has never identified people by colour and now suddenly he is aware of people's skin colour.
I am furious!!! And will be speaking to the headteacher Monday.
AIBU?

He was unaware that people had different skin colours ?

…why do I get the feeling this is (yet another) Sunday wind-up thread

Girasoli · 19/01/2025 21:31

It seems like the teacher gave your DC a factual and age appropriate explanation of apartheid to me. I wouldn't be upset by this at all.

Sirzy · 19/01/2025 21:31

It doesn’t sound like the teacher said anything inappropriate for the age.

Lyn348 · 19/01/2025 21:29

At some stage he was going to become aware, better to do it in a teacher controlled way IMO.