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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my daughter should not have been branded a racist?

198 replies

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 20:42

I'm really not sure what you're all going to say...
My DD is 13 and has a diagnosis for ADHD and also for ASD.
She struggles in school, with her anger and in social situations but we are getting there and she is improving.
Unfortunately, because she is loud and can display inappropriate behaviour, she is always the first one the teacher notices and tells off or blames.
She is used to this now and kind of just accepts it most of the time!
She is very literal and will often refuse to talk to a teacher because she looks like a thumb, laugh at a teachers name that sounds like her favourite ice cream. So she can be immature.
Today in school a girl started taunting her saying she (dd) had problems and saying 'so glad I've not got your problems though' and pulling a face to insinuate she had learning difficulties (iyswim) whilst others laughed. So my Dd jumped up and said "well you're ugly with a squashed nose and you look like a monkey!'
This girl is mixed race (i know this because her mum is known in my town and she is mixed race) and reported a racial attack to the teacher and as a consequence, my daughter was told her behaviour was disgusting and excluded
I only found out when I'd finished work because the school called my parents, who collected her from school and they left me a voicemail.
I've been to the school and the head teacher basically said that the girls family are feuding with another family, it's become quite serious and they think my DD was goaded to make a racial comment to this girl. They also said that they removed her from the situation to protect her getting into further trouble and also the girls mother reports every racial abuse to the police and I'd have them knocking at my door if he hadn't of diffused the situation. This girls mother is coming to the school on Thursday with a solicitor to demand all kinds (not about todays situation) the head basically said any row or anything said to her dd results in racial accusations so I know there is lots going on.
My dd is adamant she wasn't goaded and says that she does look like a monkey and that's why she said it.
My dd's half brother is mixed race as are her cousins, we are not a racist family. I'm so upset that the school have publicly excluded her for racial comments, that they had to call this mother and say that she had been removed and that nothing was said to the girl or her mum about what she had said.
What about the comments she was making to my dd? Why aren't they equally as damaging? My dd has no self esteem, she has self harmed many times, the amount of effort to even get her to school is enough, but to deal with this aswell? She has been doing amazing lately.
The school have said they will have her back tomorrow but she is so upset. It took her 10 minutes to even get in the car because she was having a meltdown on the pavement outside of school. In her eyes, the girl said something bad so dd said something back.
I feel so sorry for her, she is 100% not racist but she as been branded one.
She very openly admits calling her a name and says "she knows it is naughty but it wasn't because of who her mum is and she said bad things to me that I can't help and she knows she has to be told off"
It's heartbreaking for me to see her not understand and I don't think the school have protected her.
Aibu?

OP posts:
Pelicangiraffe · 25/11/2014 21:31

Both girls should be punished

Fabulous46 · 25/11/2014 21:33

The other girl isn't black. Therefore dds comment was not racially motivated

Are you for real?

fluffling · 25/11/2014 21:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ilovesooty · 25/11/2014 21:34

I've been to the school and the head teacher basically said that the girls family are feuding with another family, it's become quite serious and they think my DD was goaded to make a racial comment to this girl. They also said that they removed her from the situation to protect her getting into further trouble and also the girls mother reports every racial abuse to the police and I'd have them knocking at my door if he hadn't of diffused the situation. This girls mother is coming to the school on Thursday with a solicitor to demand all kinds (not about todays situation) the head basically said any row or anything said to her dd results in racial accusations so I know there is lots going on

I'd want to know why on earth you were told all that.

Yes, the other girl should be punished for mocking your daughter's disabilities but your daughter made a rude, racist comment and should be dealt with accordingly.

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 21:34

Ok, maybe I'm not clear. I have ADHD and struggle to communicate what's in my head at times.
I accept that she called someone a name, I don't think it was done as a racist attack but I understand how it can be Interpreted as one. I think she should have been punished for name calling, explained that the other girl felt it was a racist remark and then left to me to explain why.
I think the same should have happened to the other girl involved.
I don't see why she has been dragged into some feud outside of school that the teachers are all flapping about and why the other girl hasne been punished.

OP posts:
Shakirasma · 25/11/2014 21:34

Totally agree with Bastard. Good luck OP, and remember you are not alone. There are many more people who really understand your position and your DDs disability than you realise.

Fairenuff · 25/11/2014 21:34

The other girl isn't black. Therefore dds comment was not racially motivated Shock

What an incredibly ignorant statement.

EveDallasRetd · 25/11/2014 21:35

I can see how humans being given animal names would be very confusing for a 'literal' child with ASD. I had a conversation similar to this with a foreign friend who was learning English - trying to explain why saying "Ey-Up M'Duck" was OK but "Ey-Up Pig" wasnt

Duck - OK
Chick/Chicken - OK
Lamb - OK
Hen - OK
Cow - Not OK
Pig - Not OK
Dog - Not OK
Monkey - Of the Cheeky kind, OK - of the racially motivated kind, not OK

(and even more confusingly for him, Monkey is also a nick-name for members of the Royal Military Police, some of which will take offence, some not)

I actually feel v sorry for OPs DD, she must be so bloody confused by it all.

Fairenuff · 25/11/2014 21:35

OP are you willing to go back to school and ask for action to be taken regarding the comments towards your dd?

pauline6703 · 25/11/2014 21:37

To say someone with dark skin looks like a monkey is racist and is wrong. Watch football racists making monkey chants at black players, It is WRONG.
Your daugter was wrong to be racist. No excuse.

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 21:37

Thankyou for all your kind comments.
I can understand all points of view and I'm interested in them.

My dd is heartbroken, she can't even speak to her daddy about it because he has just had a baby who is mixed race and she thinks they all won't love her anymore.
So easy to judge u til you see a frightened little girl.
And that is why I'm sure the other mum is doing a similar thing, just mind blown at how the school have dealt with this.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 25/11/2014 21:37

I don't see why she has been dragged into some feud outside of school that the teachers are all flapping about and why the other girl hasne been punished.

She hasn't

If she hadn't have made that remark to the girl, none of you would know anything about this 'feud'.

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 21:41

But she has, they have chosen to exclude her but not the other girl.
And the reason behind this decision was because they had to look like they were doing something because the other girls mum is always in the school ranting and raving.
That has nothing to do with my dd and this girl having g a name calling session.
I work in a school, some parents are more trouble than others and they're the ones who get what they want.
It happens, it's not right... But it does!

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 25/11/2014 21:41

Your daughter has (quite rightly in my view) been excluded for her racist comment.

The other girl should certainly also be excluded if she used the word you mention - that's disgraceful.

usualsuspect333 · 25/11/2014 21:41

It sounds like you have a difficult job trying to explain things to your DD, OP.

slithytove · 25/11/2014 21:42

Forgive me.. What mixed race is the other child if not part black?

I'm inclined to think that if she was part Chinese (for instance) that saying she looks like a monkey isn't racist.

My dd looks like a monkey (scrappy hair and big sticky out ears, very cute) and she is white.

I have a big squashed nose :( and I'm white.

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 21:42

I know this girl has felt it was a racist attack.
But my dd doesn't understand the racialundertones tones.
She does now and she is devastated.

OP posts:
Fairenuff · 25/11/2014 21:42

So your problem isn't with your dd's punishment but the lack of punishment for the other girl, is that right OP?

WorraLiberty · 25/11/2014 21:44

So they have 100% told you that they did not think your DD was being racist, but they had to suspend her for it anyway? Is that what you're saying?

You're going to make an appointment and sort this out, right?

You don't even have to go alone. You're perfectly entitled to bring a friend to support you/witness what's being said.

ghostspirit · 25/11/2014 21:45

I think its really sad that the other girls colour/race is being used as an excuse or used as a weapon to get others into trouble very sad indeed.

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 21:47

Her mother is mixed race Chinese.
She called my mum a dog for ages because she said she did this look like our dog used to.
She used to giggle and say come here doggy... Nanna is a dog!
I had to explain why it might not be nice.
I couldn't covere every possible scenario though.
The school know her well enough to know this.
This is a vulnerable child we are talking about, one who can't make sense of the world around her like most people.
Exclusion for her in my eyes isn't adhering to their policies for equality r safeguarding.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 25/11/2014 21:48

It's also possible that the other Mother is absolutely pig sick of racism, and has decided to take a zero tolerance stance - hence the reason the school feel she's always complaining.

Although if that is the case, the school should be ashamed.

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 21:50

I feel like if I go back into school tomorrow and demand this girl be treated the same then the school,we're basically telling me that this would start a whole ball rolling with the girls parent.
That she would call the police and they would have to interrogate my dd, but it's not the same for my dd!?
The school said the parents would start a personal attack on me (I live alone with dd and am worried)
I do t know what to do but feel strong,y that I have to support dd as she is devastated by all this.

OP posts:
slithytove · 25/11/2014 21:51

See, I would say that calling a Chinese person a monkey is as racist as calling a white person a monkey,

Maybe I'm splitting hairs

Nikinakin00 · 25/11/2014 21:51

*were

OP posts:
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