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AIBU?

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Original poster

how can we ever take political correctness seriously when normal words suddenly become "hate crimes"

133 replies

Charis1 · 17/05/2015 20:29

not sure if this link will work, but this head teacher was investigated by the police for a "hate crime" for using the term "special needs" when referring to ASD.

schoolsimprovement.net/headteacher-cleared-in-police-disability-hate-crime-investigation-for-saying-autistic-pupil-had-special-needs/

OP posts:
snowglobemouse · 17/05/2015 20:30
Shock
Behooven · 17/05/2015 20:32

I saw this in the news last week. I was astonished that the police actually investigated it.

tabulahrasa · 17/05/2015 20:38

It was published on the school website though, I wouldn't report it as a hate crime, but I would be complaining to the council if a headteacher named my child, said he was special needs and published it on the school website.

BeyondDoesBootcamp · 17/05/2015 20:38

I think "special needs" very much depends on the tone and if used as an insult is 100% disabilism.

PeachyPants · 17/05/2015 20:46

I think the headline is quite shocking but the reality is that things have to be investigated, in this case the accusation was found to be baseless. I do remember at school "Special" was a term used in parallel to it's appropriate non-offensive way to mock and abuse though (by pupils not staff I should add).

lunar1 · 17/05/2015 21:06

I referred to my children as mixed race the other day and got torn to shreds by this woman! She told me I was ignorant and racist. I need an app to text me every time PC references and rules change.

lljkk · 17/05/2015 21:07

yanbu

Tanith · 17/05/2015 21:10

From what I understand, this was a parent governor with a history of making false and malicious allegations against staff at the school.

  1. the complaint should have been dismissed a log quicker than it was

  2. the parent should have been investigated, at the very least for wasting police time.

rumbleinthrjungle · 17/05/2015 21:30

Oh God, what are we supposed to say instead of mixed race now? Dual heritage? I feel better described by mixed race!

BigChocFrenzy · 17/05/2015 21:34

Aargh, I describe myself as mixed race, just did so on another thread 39 mins ago. What am I called now ? (polite answers only, please)
Why can't I be called what I want, when it is factually correct Confused

BigChocFrenzy · 17/05/2015 21:35

If "special needs" is nok now, what is the pc term ?

Original poster
Charis1 · 17/05/2015 21:36

Oh God, what are we supposed to say instead of mixed race now? Dual heritage? I feel better described by mixed race!

it is absolutly stupid, isn't it. you can be a mix of many races, and only have one heritage, so "dual heritage" is a complete nonsense.

OP posts:
Aermingers · 17/05/2015 21:37

I think it's SEN but I'm not sure.

Original poster
Charis1 · 17/05/2015 21:38

no, SEN is the same thing, special educational needs, or special needs, or SEN, is all the same term.

OP posts:
AuntyMag10 · 17/05/2015 21:39

Yanbu, it's PC gone mad.

lunar1 · 17/05/2015 21:50

She told me it was dual heritage, but I'm not going to commit to that being right. I'm staying quiet in future!

manicinsomniac · 17/05/2015 21:55

At my school we now use additional needs rather than special needs. Firstly, special has become an insult and, secondly, the needs aren't really 'special' when about 20% of children have them! Additional works well and includes G&T too.

I call my children mixed race. Never occurred to me not to.

The complaint in the headline was rather OTT though!

Icimoi · 17/05/2015 21:58

The trouble is, idiot papers like the Mail seize on one nutter making a stupid complaint and suddenly it's "Political correctness gone maaaaaaad." This is nothing to do with the true nature of political correctness which, properly applied, is no more than acting with decent consideration for the feelings of other people.

Original poster
Charis1 · 17/05/2015 21:58

I thought the term "additional needs" was abolished before "special needs" was brought in, many years ago, because some body somewhere had decided that "additional needs" was deeply and unforgivably offensive! Alongside calling English an "additional" language. The word "additional" is considered down right evil round here!

OP posts:
Aermingers · 17/05/2015 22:00

Yes, but don't people say SEN the abbreviation as a word and that makes it okay because you don't actually say the word special? Or is it additional needs?

It's hard to keep up.

Original poster
Charis1 · 17/05/2015 22:00

I also call my children mixed race, and shout down anyone who tries to tell me to say dual heritage. They are not dual heritage, so that is crap, for a start. My friend insists on calling herself and her siblings half caste, and has never got used to the term mixed race.

OP posts:
Aermingers · 17/05/2015 22:01

I thought G & T was a drink until 2 minutes ago.

manicinsomniac · 17/05/2015 22:17

haha Charis , I don't know, the opposite seems to be true here (on additional vs special) We refer to children as being EAL too (English as an Additional Language)

I suppose the differences just prove your point really!

OrlandoWoolf · 17/05/2015 22:20

Context is everything.

We won't expect them to do well. They're special needs.

We actively support children with special needs in our school.

BigChocFrenzy · 17/05/2015 22:39

Illogical and paranoid. "Special" is not an insult, any more than "additional" is.
If someone tells me I'm special to them, that is a great compliment. If I'm "additional", then I'm more of an afterthought.

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