Racist teacher from when I was at school

[judsey]

I just had a discussion with my daughters about bullying at school and how they should be aware of it and report it to teachers if they see it.

It brought back memories from my childhood. I have an English first name and Chinese middle name. I was one of a few non white girls at an all girls Grammar school in Kent. The male Geography teacher in particular used to make racist comments in class and mock my non English name which resulted in the other children calling me by the same name he called me. When I told him that I didn't want him to call me Ping Pong Pang Yang, he wrote scathing comments in my report calling me rude. All the other teachers pretty much called me a model student. My lovely French teacher went so far to write that she disagreed with his comments

I didn't have the courage to complain to the headmistress at the time as I felt she too was biased and used to laugh it off instead but it destroyed me inside. I just looked him up and discovered he is now a parish councillor and was awarded an MBE.

Should I write in to the parish council to let them know he was a racist teacher?

Yes I think you should write letters to him and to the council, it doesn’t matter that it was a long time ago. He should be confronted with his past racist behaviour and how it negatively affected you. It’s unjust for you to have had to carry the burden of his behaviour. Be prepared for no notable outcome but if he has changed he might apologise.

I also think while a lot of the posters advising you to take no action might mean well, a lot of them will come from people with no experience being on the receiving end of racism. It happened a long time ago but it impacted the OP for decades. Racism in schools is still so much of an issue it’s been making the news recently and this man has been lauded and is in the position to make decisions for his community. He does need to be made aware.

I think letting him know that you have contacted the Parish Council and not just tell them does in a sense take away any attempt to use the way you've complained be used as a defence.

Yes I would write to the Parish OP. He doesn't deserve the MBE.

I was bullied at school by a teacher. I was 11 and in Year 7 and it was 1983. My dad had just been killed in the Falklands War. I had no counselling, there was no compassion or understanding and I wasn't a naughty child anyway. It was quite a posh grammar school.

This teacher bullied me relentlessly every time he saw me in a corridor I got in trouble for something that he would generally make up on the spot. I left school hating it with a passion and subsequently didn't go to university and ended up in secretarial roles all my life.

A few years ago I found out he still worked at the school part time. I wrote to him telling him how appalling it was the way he treated me, how i had needed compassion and taking care of not bullying etc etc. I let it all out without swearing or anything like that. I put my home address and email addresses on the letter for him to reply, but he never did. Wanker.

It was quite cathartic to spell it all out like that and I'm glad I did it. I was able to move on then. I feel you should write to him about the lasting effects his racism had on you OP but not to the wider parish counsel. It's between you and him. If he replies that's up to him. Just to let him know his actions affected you would be a good thing and may give you closure.

Well done painfultummy. I applaud you. He's a wanker and he will always be one but at least he's lyrically slapped in the face with your pen!