Comments Made By Older People About Children

[OldMcDonald]

I volunteer in a couple of roles where I come into contact with primary school children during school hours. Many of the other volunteers are retired. I'm in my thirties.

I frequently find myself raising an eyebrow at comments made by other volunteers relating to race or disability that it wouldn't cross my mind to think let alone say. This is privately and not to the children or anything. For example commenting on how many black faces there were and how that's a big change from how it used to be (matter of factly not in a tone that suggests it's a negative thing) or hypothesising on what medical condition might be behind mobility or speech issues.

I appreciate that they most likely didn't grow up in a time and place where diversity was common and certainly not one where it was celebrated but AIBU to be surprised that a more modern view point hasn't rubbed off on them? Also AIBU to think that if they are thinking these things, they shouldn't be saying them out loud? Finally AIBU to be petrified of turning into one of them in 30 or 40 years time, possibly not in relation to the same issues, but something new?

[AstridWhite]

CB

I think you have taken my comment and used it totally out of context. I wasn't referring to people over a certain age using racist terminology at all. I wasn't talking about people getting more stupid or less sensitive as they get older either.

I was talking about how much levels of diversity have changed in relatively recent years and how the older you are, the more you must remember a time when there was little or no diversity. Nothing ageist about that comment whatsoever.

[FuzzyCustard]

I am 59 and in my class at primary school there were children from Jamaica, Pakistan, India, Italy, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland....so diversity has been about for quite a long time!

[Floisme]

I'm slightly older than Fuzzy and I also remember a number of children from Poland and the Ukraine. With hindsight I realise they were the children of refugees but this was never explained and never occurred to me. They were white so the diversity wasn't immediately obvious.

I cannot remember any children with disabilities in my school. As previous posters have said they were firstly far less likely to survive in the fifties / early sixties (a number of friends had brothers and sisters who had died as babies - it wasn't uncommon). If they did survive, they were educated in special schools.

So yes there was diversity but it wasn't as noticeable.

I try to be careful with my language because I think words matter but I see nothing wrong with discussing this. If there is please say so.