To think this is a bit racist?

[EMS23]

Two friends from completely separate friendship groups have recently expressed a similar opinion to me. They have each moved their DC from a school because 'she was one of only two children not called Mohammed' / 'they were all Muslims - I don't want my kid being the minority'.

After the first one, I was pretty sure it was mildly racist, felt a bit uncomfortable about it but I rarely see her so just thought, whatever, bit of a shame but no great loss.
Then one of my oldest and best friends said the exact same thing and now I don't know how to feel. I love her and have always really respected her intelligence so now what?
Am I being hyper sensitive here? I'm a white British person so i don't think I feel offended for myself IYSWIM but I abhor racism in any form and never imagined myself as being friends with people that I knew were.

Re kids in school.

If I wanted my child to be a minority I'd move to a foreign country. I live where I live because I like it and want my child raised in the same nationality and culture that I was.

Except my British child was a minority in one aspect (not being Muslim) in a school full of other British children (who were mostly Muslim). Almost the entire school shared a nationality - British - and much of their culture (liking Minecraft, stupid music, football and Nandos), even if they differed on one significant plank (their religion).

Where does the foreign country come in, Celeste?

Well yes! We've (our school) have told parents who's first language isn't English to speak English at home as it is hard for the child to pick up English language which we teach in! We do not teach in their language so it just slows us down so it is easier for everyone so the school has told them speak English

As we are not a hugely multicultural school as most kids at the school where I work are white / black / mixed race British

I don't believe in multiculturalism. I don't think we should aim to preserve the separated-ness required to remain multi cultural. Surely, it would be better to aim for a blended culture which may have a range of understandings but no distinct segments?

It is also unhelpful to treat white as synonymous with 'British ethnicity' as there are lots of town, particularly in areas like the fens, where the local population is feeling drowned out by immigrants from Eastern Europe.

Lonely it is 'whose' not 'who's' 'Who's' is 'who is' - the apostrophe replaces the 'i' in 'is' rather than forming the possessive. But I understand - even native english speakers are prone to basic mistakes sometimes.

Well WhAtEvEr shazkaaaaa

Couldn't care less tbh

I didn't say native English speakers are perfect either and don't slow the class down but the EAL children sure as hell do a lot more than them

yeah I did suspect this was the case.

my comment re your second comment, not your third.

Xx

Sorry accidently typed xx when I read the page

Some of the people on this thread need to learn a bit of British history. It might surprise them.

Why should colour if the teacher matter? This discussion was about the mix of kids in a school. I was pointing out that a make role model is mportant. DS won't go jack crazy if he doesn't get a ME teacher but some boys do need a male role model to help them achieve.

DS had plenty of role models in his family.

Because role models are important, Chocolate, as you acknowledge. If a nonwhite kid grows up only seeing white people in positions of authority, and nonwhite people only in service positions, it is as damaging as the "only boys can be doctors, only girls can be nurses" kind of thing.

DH didn't have any problems, nor did his brothers. DS certainly won't - why would I bring up my (non white) child not to think he can be anything? I don't expect the school to do this - we do this at home.

I intentionally moved house to avoid sending my PFB to a school that was predominantly Muslim. We went to look round and the head teacher explained that, whilst it was a C of E school, their main religion was Muslim and most teachers and pupils were Muslim - 98%. Lessons weren't taught in English where the teachers and pupils had the same language. We moved and sent my PFB to a school that taught all lessons in English.
If that's racist then so be it, but I didn't want them in a school where their language was the minority and not being able to fully converse with their peers.

That just might be your school though, I'm only saying what my school has said not my personal view mrsdevere

However my opinion isn't as strong and hateful as others! In the staff room I heard two TA's talking about how there are far to many foreigners coming into the country and one turned around and said "I know, that's why I don't feel any sympathy about those kids in Pakistan getting shot as that is 150 kids that won't come over hear to breed 150 more out".... This really shocked me tbh

What did you say?

Nothing! She wasn't speaking to me I just carried on drinking tea but really awkward as a teacher from Kenya was sitting right near them

Lonely
Apart from the fact that my vocabulary was far greater than ALL of my classmates when still at school, despite the fact that I didn't speak English at home; if you were a TA at a school my child attended, I'd be complaining about your standard of english.