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?

Sorry just read my post back and realised it may sound like I don't believe the stories. I do. I just find them astonishing and very sad.

Cool, I thought it was self-evident why I mentioned the teacher's race. Hesterton was spot on. I have just handed a letter to the Head bringing my concerns to her attention and have couched it as more of an enquiry as to what exactly happened and asking for clarification as to how it will be addressed, rather than going in guns blazing.

I have just handed a letter to the Head bringing my concerns to her attention

Personally I think you should have spoken to the teacher first. A letter to the head seems OTT as a first communication.

Good luck OP, let us know how you get on. It is simply unacceptable to accuse the class of racism when it sounds like the TA is just rubbish. Even if the TA genuinely believes this then there are better, more professional ways to have addresed it.

I had no time to meet with her this morning as I have a work meeting to chair this morning. On my way now. I've asked to meet with her when I collect my DD from school this pm so at least she may have answers by then.

Well done op for being proactive.

Of course you need to chase this up and make it clear that it's not an acceptable way to manage a class, and will alienate them more than establish respect.

If it's not true, the TA needs to know that her sweeping accusations have consequences, and are unacceptable. If there is an element of truth, and by that I mean from one or two pupils, it needs handling correctly, not using as a stick to beat the an entire classroom with.

A paper letter? Humm, I'd have thought an email better as it can be forwarded and sent up the chain of command if necessary. But nevertheless, good to get the ball rolling on this. And great approach, trying to ascertain what has happened vs going in with accusations straight away.

Good luck with it all.

It really wasn't an acceptable thing to say.

By the way, you might wish to mention that even at an extremely young age, if a child says something that could be construed as racist it has to be written up and reported officially.

So if there is such a high level of racism that this TA accuses an entire class, surely the TA should have reported each racist incident from each child and it needs to be investigated officially. It's far too serious to be thrown around without substantiated evidence. And as there are specific procedures in place that a racist incident kicks off, why isn't this happening?! Assuming it isn't, as this doesn't appear to be the motivation of the TA from what your dd has said.

It really wasn't an acceptable thing to say. Yes it was. There are ways of dealing with the class room if they were being racist unless the TA has been ignored on her complaints made to the head.

If indeed the class is being racist, it needs to be dealt with. Either way, as a duty, the op has to make sure it's dealt.