AIBU to be shocked at this

[Stilllookingforthestars]

This (honestly!) isn't a rehash of all the BREXIT arguments of late. However, at school today a teacher said to a group of eleven year olds (in the context of discussing a text) 'well, there are always going to be silly, racist people around, there are in this country, that's led to us leaving europe'

(I know we aren't leaving Europe) But anyway, AIBU to think this is totally inappropriate?

Lingotria, that's awful. I know a lot of people have said the same
Luckily, I haven't felt as affected but I've felt unsafe. Hope things get better for you.

No doubt said out of frustration and shouldn't really have been said to a class of kids, but let's face it - there are a significant number of people who still hold racist views.

More worryingly there are even more who still cling to the delusion that there is some way we can arrest this countrys' decline in both power and influence. Our day has been and gone - we are a small country that punched massively above our weight for a long time (to our credit - mostly) but numbers are simply against us now and the playing field is far too level for it not to be the only real factor. King Canute had more chance holding back the tide.

The thread has moved in but themightymoog teachers are predominantly left wing, even in the private sector. Imo it's because they're one step removed from the market- there's not the direct corollation between widgets sold and income you see in other businesses. They're also more likely to have an intellectual hinterland (via say an arts degree, rather than a GP who hasn't had to read fiction since they were 15) and come across the effects of government policies daily at work.
Disclaimer this isn't meant 'sneerilily': I'm Labour and have taught and sent dcs to both sectors.

Yanbu, she's making a sweeping statement and shouldn't have aired it to students. Very unprofessional

@Lingotria

you clearly didn't follow the news after the event when people admitted they thought Brexit would reduce 'brown immigration'?

So you think that because there were some leave voters who thought that Brexit would reduce "brown immigration", therefore all leave voters thought that? And furthermore that they voted Leave because of that?

There wasn't a single logical argument in the Leave campaign - simple research would have helped identify that

The Leave campaign was awful (not that the Remain campaign was exactly admirable). I was clear that I researched by reading treaties, academic journals, reputable reports. Listening to the two campaigns would hardly constitute research! And maybe if you'd researched half as thoroughly as I did, you'd understand that there were logical arguments for both sides.

This was a purely emotional vote and it was def based on racism and racial prejudice

Firstly, if I had voted emotionally, I would have voted Remain. I'm pretty sure there were some emotional voters on both sides. Ironically, you're coming across as having based your opinions to no small extent on emotions, impressions and prejudices, with the logical fallacies, sweeping generalizations, and lack of attempt to understand any opposing arguments.

Secondly, I know for certain that my vote was definitely not because of racism or racial prejudice. Not even my enemies have ever accused me of racism, yet, strangely, you can be sure I'm racist, based on one voting choice I made, in a referendum about a highly complex issue which affects far, far more than immigration?

Again, I think you need to examine yourself for your own prejudices.

I do think it's a bit off to knowingly make children feel inwardly ashamed of their family/parents if they come from a home that they're aware has voted leave. I can imagine that being upsetting for a child to hear and not feel able to challenge it coming from a figure of authority. There can't be much satisfaction in that for an adult surely?

I'd like to see anyone try and convince my DC that they come from a racist, thick home though, that would be amusing.

I agree with the teacher but the children aren't voting age yet so it's a bit of a dumb analogy.
Was she saying that racism is rife or that the victim of racism should suck it up because it's everywhere?

I am disturbed that anyone would think this was ok, how is this kind of sweeping statement by a teacher meant to encourage critical thinking in young people?

I'm truly amazed that so many of you are not horrified by this (irrespective of your personal views on the matter), to present lazy, partisan thinking of that nature in a classroom is appalling.

Personal politics have no place in the classroom and I'd be up to school like a shot if this has been said to my child.