Teachers comment about 'concentration camp' (secondary school)

[JacobsAngel]

A teacher at my child's school, known for their passive aggressive attitude (and boring lessons-relevant) made a comment to the class and said " you're not in a concentration camp" aibu to think this is inappropriate?

Apparently the class were unenthusiastic and unresponsive (and probably bored) to the way the lesson was being delivered so the teacher tried to, well not quite sure what they were trying to get the class to do by saying what they did as all they got back were confused looks and whispers.

My child wasn't the only one to say, after the class had dispersed, they felt it an inappropriate comment.

Ironically the class have been studying the Holocaust in a different subject class so are well aware of what a concentration camp was, hence the startled looks from some of the children and hushed comments.

Should something be said to the school or view it as a faux pas by a teacher who really should engage their brain before they open their mouth?

Quality flounce.

Extra marks for multiple use of "lol" as a full stop in multiple earlier posts.

We all say the wrong thing occasionally, but that's a corker.

The fact that quite a few of the class noticed it because of what they are currently studying in history suggests that the history teacher is far more engaging and enthusiastic than the science teacher.

If I heard a view expressed like that in my presence I would probably have a quiet word later on with whoever said it and leave it at that.

That first sentence doesn't make sense. I mentioned this to students I was teaching. English teachers. What do they know?

You are so wrong.
Let the teacher teach.

Can't believe most of the comments. It was a totally inappropriately and unacceptable thing to say.

I obviously wasn't the only one to pick on all the lolling.

And the OP does seem rather fixated on passive aggressive

be glad you have a teacher in front of the class....sorry non issue for me.

Well I'm surprised at the comments on here to be honest as light hearted comments about concentration camps are innapropriate full stop let alone from someone in a profession like teaching. If there were Jewish children in the class it would be highly racially inappropriate as well as in extremely poor taste. I disagree that it was a slip of the tongue or saying the wrong thing. Either you make light hearted comments about the extermination of Jews, disabled people etc or you know it's not appropriate.
Would I complain though - no. As I doubt anything would be done about it. The teacher would likely deny saying it and I doubt the type of person who says that kind of thing is going to accept there's anything wrong with it or alter their behaviour.

NovemberWitch CCTV to show what really happens in classrooms but nothing did happen here. I agree with WetstheVet. It is a non-issue. and i say this as a Jew-ish type. (not really proper jew but some jewish heritage through a grandparent)

YABVVVU!

I am a human, I also used to teach in Secondary schools. Teachers/humans sometimes have a slip of the tongue, or say things that some may not expect. We also have good and bad days, and good and bad lessons.

This ‘remark’ is incredibly tame in comparison to what a lot of staff have to put up with hearing from students on a daily basis.

Having to put up with silly complaints, or the fear that students or parents may make a fuss out of nothing is a huge problem. There is a huge crisis in terms of Teacher stress and other mental health issues, which are affecting morale and are having a devastating effect on Teacher recruitment and retention. Putting up with ‘non-issues’ like the one you’ve raised can sometimes be the last straw after everything else Teachers do/put up with.

Let the Teachers teach.

I think it was inappropriate. We all say things that are unthinking or whatever, but I've never heard anyone 'accidentally' refer to concentration camps.

I thought I'd be alone in not following the unanimous YABU, but I see that just as I post, a couple of others have also spoken up.

I doubt it will curb the gleeful pile-on, but YANBU to think this wasn't at all right, OP.

Also, when I was a Secondary school student, I had an excellent teacher who would shout ‘sex’ at the top of her voice to quickly get the attention of the whole class.

It always worked without fail. She was a very highly regarded teacher (by staff and students), and none of us would’ve dreamed of complaining about her choice of vocabulary.

Parents like you are one of the reasons why teachers quit teaching

I know 2 teachers who have had 'chats' with their heads of departments about choosing language more carefully.

One said 'cheeky monkey' to one of her students and the other said something along the lines of 'I'm not your slave'.
As it happens, they were both grateful it was brought up otherwise they might not have realised that their flippant comment possibly offended.

I think this example is similar.

Yeah, the kids were 'bored'; the teacher is 'boring'. Whatever.

YABU.

The phrase is overused. So, by the way, is the term 'Holocaust'.

What are you going to do next/

I have to admit that, along with BetteDavis, I'm finding it very odd that the Science teacher would be accidentally referring to concentration camps, too. My initial response was determined by the belief that this was a History teacher,, teaching on the subject (thus there being some kind of train of thought).

The OP's responses are quite odd, too. The move from disquiet to 'lol' is strange - but I suppose it could be an attempt at rapprochement in the face of lots of people saying 'YABU'.

All very odd.

Are the phrases overused, Landsend?

I live in a bit of a right-on enclave and people I know would definitely think twice, and would flinch if someone used either in a too-casual manner. However, I do realise that my experience might not be universal.

As it happens, they were both grateful it was brought up otherwise they might not have realised that their flippant comment possibly offended.

Of course they were. I'd have been massively grateful too. Nothing I like better than some po faced and earnest wanker pointing out to me I need to choose my language 'more carefully'.

I'm a HoD. One 'cheeky monkey' (12 yo girl) called my colleague a 'fucking cunt' today. I do hope the child's mother/SLT have a little 'chat' with her about how this could possibly offend.

It's not most teachers who need to engage their brain before opening their mouth, love.

The phrase is overused. So, by the way, is the term 'Holocaust'

By whom? Can you expand on the context in which those words/phrases are overused, Landsend?

Love to know how "I'm not your slave" was potentially offensive.

The phrase is overused. So, by the way, is the term 'Holocaust

There are quite few arguments about the use of Holocaust with a capital H, a feeling it denotes the special nature of the programme of extermination of Jews by the Nazis. Others have argued the word, in whatever form, should only be used in association with the Holocaust of the Jews. Others say this is bollocks, that the term existed beforehand and after, e.g. nuclear holocaust. Larry Kramer, author of "Reports from the holocaust: the making of an AIDS activist" used the word, and quite deliberately, though it is notable he did not use the upper case for the word.

I have to say, echt, I wouldn't use that phrase. And it would go down like a bucket of cold vomit with quite a few of the SLT of schools I've worked in.

Having said that, I do think teachers are human, and perfection is the trait of gods.

I hope we would all aim not to trivialise either concentration camps or the Holocaust, though, echt.