AIBU to be fuming that my Year 5 daughter's class has been branded ?

[Ebony69]

So my 9 year old DD came home today and told me that after her TA (who is white) struggled to get the attention of the class, she suggested to them that they must all be racist. The TA explained that the only reason why they weren't listening to her was because she is white. Out of 30 children, only one child is white. The class teacher is black but was not in the classroom. AIBU to be fuming at this?

Whether the children were misbehaving is not the issue is it? The TA has chosen to take the wrong path to get the attention of the children. I am a TA. This is wholly unprofessional.

Pen where did I say that NONE of the class were listening? And that's not the point. Clearly.

op's dc wasn't the only way not paying attention, the whole class were being All kids can sense a weak teacher/ta and will play up,if they can.

Like Fuzzy, I have been in the unfortunate position of hearing colleagues say crap like this. "They only listen to black teachers." "They wouldn't behave like this if I was black," etc. When actually it is clutching at straws to excuse their poor classroom management. I believe this happened, OP, you need to see the Head or the classteacher.

@SalemSaberhagen

Only newbies can troll, Olivia?

No, we didn't say that - apologies - what we meant was we've got no reason to think this is anything but genuine.

Bit of peace and love all round, please

Thanks to those who actually believe this. This TA is clearly not taking responsibility for her poor class management. My husband is suggesting that it would be more effective to put a complaint/ enquiry in writing so that there's an official record.

I haven't actually seen any similar posts.

Gosh. I'm astounded at this.

I believe you, OP.
It's always the same people troll-hunting- must be a fun sport!

Thanks Lavender. TBH, I would have struggled to believe it myself in the first instance. But it's quite another thing to continuously troll hunt in such an ignorant way. It must make them feel good about themselves.

bear!where did I suggest none of the class were listening?

I can believe this happened. Frankly the disbelieving comments make me more inclined to believe. Kneejerk dismissal of accounts of racism (how could a person in a position of authority possibly be racist?) is part of the atmosphere that allows racism to flourish (I encounter similar in my work where men have gone out of their way to interpret sexist comments/behaviour as anything but prejudice against women). OP, I hope you kick up a huge fuss - the comment was obviously completely outrageous and indefensible.

I believe you OP. I would definitely complain.

I can believe some of the shitty responses on here. for the troll hunters.

OP YANBU.

Pen, firstly, you assumed that my child wasn't behaving. Secondly, you missed the point entirely which suggests to me that either you lack the intellect to understand the concern that I have taised in this thread or you do not deem the TA's comments to be problematic.

It's incredible how many shit teachers there are in MNLand that's for sure.

I'd be fuming though too if my child and her classmates were being racist towards their teacher. I'd certainly be giving her what for, and would hope the TA complained to the Head and had all the parents informed.

That is what the OP meant, isn't it?

*raised

Seriously though, if the TA is often left in charge of the class, I'd think about raising that with the powers that be.

at Pen. In between all the troll hunting I'm not sure what's going on anymore. I'm going to take you at face value op and say yanbu. I can believe this would happen as well. TAs are not teachers, some are badly trained and you need to find out what went on. But this thread is going nowhere. I have been off work for a few weeks with a broken wrist and browsing Mumsnet far more than is healthy. I haven't seen any similar posts. So I am lost at the subtext.

The teacher is black.

Why is this relevant????

Call me unimaginative but as a white teacher with 20 non-white pupils, I simply don't believe this occurred. I just don't. Sorry

I find it difficult to believe the bullying thread too - where the mother has taken her son out of school because the school simply won't accept that he is being bullied.

Then we had the story about the dinner lady who implied the OP's daughter was a bitch.

Astonishing things do happen. Particularly in schools, it seems.