Would you object to this comment in a headteacher’s staff address? WWYD?

[Meckrel]

End of term address to staff by the HT of a large and successful secondary school.

There were some tech problems at the start and he opened his remarks by saying "two things I hate, microphones and women who say no".

Now, who knows what he was actually thinking. I don't think (hope) he meant sexually, but even in the context of "difficult" women that's not OK for a teacher and employer to say? Is it?

It was an address to staff thanking them for the year etc etc. Most people laughed. Would you?

I work in a university and if someone said this to staff they would absolutely be explaining it to HR. People would be outraged.

Surely you speak to colleagues
were they not horrified too?

It's pretty cringey. But I wouldn't complain.

I'd be appalled at a remark like that. Were there any school Governors present at the meeting?

I might not have laughed but I would assume there was context to the comment, about whatever was going on with the tech issues and whoever helped him sort it out. I wouldn't jump to grabbing my pitchfork or assume it was sexually motivated.

That is really. It ok, from anyone never mind a member of the leadership team

I don’t know what’s ickier, the actual comment or all the women on this thread trying to defend it.

If we replaced what the HT said with 'black people' or 'Jewish people' then we'd all agree that it was a totally inappropriate comment.

Sexism is no different to racism. It's discrimination, it's not ok, and even if meant 'in jest' or casually, it needs to be challenged. It amazes and saddens me that so many women on this thread think it's ok for men to throw out casually sexist comments in professional settings.

Yeah, that's a spectacularly misjudged comment in a work environment.

Of course not. Rape culture supported by a teacher? Unacceptable.

Id hope he meant say no to a date. But I doubt it.

Wow.

If my child attended this school, I’d want this addressed.

No to a date would still be bad. No one owes him a date, or deserves “hate” for rejecting him.

No but it’s ok to dislike being rejected. That’s normal.

That’s horrendous

It is not normal or acceptable to make a comment like that in a professional setting.

This!

I was a head teacher. That remark is not acceptable. At all! It was probably nerves as it's awful addressing the masses with tech that doesn't work but that's unforgivable

Fair point, you're right. I guess I'm just being suspicious. It's the end of term and suddenly there's a slew of anti-teacher threads by new posters that get people frothing. This one just goes further by being about a male HT.

Its not ok or normal to announce he hates women who turn him down for dates in a meeting.

On the very slight chance he was referring to dates im sure he'd be mortified and also grateful to be made aware that his 'joke' could be taken in an even worse way.

Jeez, horrendous on every level. It would've been questionable from someone in his position 30 years ago ffs.

I hate jokes like that, shame on those who laughed.

I would assume it was meant as ‘Women who say no WHEN I ASK THEM OUT’ not sexual assault 😟

as in a lighthearted deprecating ‘no one will go out with me’ joke

Not only a sexist HT but a stupid one. He's insulted at least half his staff and about half of the school's pupils.

Is he married?

Careful you don’t pull a muscle with those mental gymnastics.