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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Teachers comment about 'concentration camp' (secondary school)

275 replies

JacobsAngel · 19/01/2018 23:34

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?

OP posts:
JustDanceAddict · 21/01/2018 11:31

Inappropriate and tasteless, but tbh was an ignorant throwaway comment. Wouldn’t make me warm to the teacher I have to say.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 07:32

Yes OP, you're absolutely right and the kids were right too, it was totally inappropriate. The kids knew it was wrong, hence the hushed comments. Well done to them for their astuteness and I think definitely complain this morning. Ignore the usual blah blah from the teachers on here and do what's right, complain to the school. Gone are the days when teachers could do what they want and say what they want (as when I was in school) thank goodness. What a bad example to the pupils and for those who are making all the excuses under the sun such as the pupils misheard, of course they didn't hence a number of shocked faces and hushed tones. Complain OP and I hope school deals with this inappropriate and tasteless comment in the right way.

Sostenueto · 22/01/2018 07:38

This op is exactly what I dislike about mumsnet....ridiculous and inane, middle class Nandy pandy parents who put questions like this on line......get a life!

noblegiraffe · 22/01/2018 07:42

Really struggling to picture a bunch of teenagers being shocked at a comment about concentration camps.

However I'm not struggling to picture a bunch of teenagers pretending to be shocked to try to get their teacher into trouble.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 08:01

OP, please ignore ignore and report the offensive comment this very morning.

thecatfromjapan · 22/01/2018 08:39

This thread was started by an OP with pretty much zero posting history, who responded with vague answers and a lot of 'Lol'-ing, and was ... interesting in subject matter.

Is it really likely a Science teacher would randomly use the analogy of a concentration camp?

(For what it's worth, if this were a RL example, I would agree with Noble. However, I truly wonder if it is ...)

I think I'm pretty safe in posting this, now.

'Free speech' is an ideal. Most of us act, all the time, to moderate our speech in consideration of the audience we are addressing, and with a mind to the actions we wish to effect. This is reproduced at the level of society: speech acts are moderated, through law. All of us accept membership of communities on the understanding that there are limitations to what we can say and do, and membership of a community is granted on the understanding we accept those limitations in return for the benefits of membership (one of those benefits being that others are similarly limited).

So, given this, think about what you are being asked to accept on this thread, what sort of community is established. Personally, I suspect the OP thought it was "Lolz" to get a load of women - many of whom would be teachers - to say that trivialising the Holocaust (and let's not be naive, this wasn't about concentration camps in America or the Boer War) was OK in certain circumstances.

Who is that speech act - and the resulting speech acts - supposed to include in the community? Who was it supposed to subsequently exclude? What sort of speech community was it supposed to establish, with what sorts of rules?

Think about it.

And think about the discussion it subsequently generated. A whole load of "Snowflakes!!" comments.

I'm really fed up of this. We're not idiots. We know that there is a real push-back against attempts to widen participation in public life, and to do so by making people aware that speech acts are not neutral. Speech acts create speech communities, and organise the boundaries of political and social communities. They include and exclude by way of the rules they establish and reproduce.

That attempt to widen participation is often uncomfortable - particularly if you are being asked to examine patterns of behaviour that you are used to following unreflectively. The push-back is also uncomfortable.

I'll be absolutely honest. I found this thread very frustrating, partly because I found MN's guidelines quite inhibiting when it came to discussing what might actually be going on with this thread.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 08:50

Anasnake distraction strategy? Doesn't alter the fact that an offensive comment was made and should be reported.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 08:58

I have a feeling that if the pupils were misbehaving in the corridor or canteen and the janitor or dinner lady made the comment, replies would be different? Think about that teachers.

Piggywaspushed · 22/01/2018 09:09

I don't think that's true at all falmer so now you are accusing us of being elitist snobs. Many teachers on here have said this child was certainly old enough to talk to the teacher herself.

Ps the words janitor and dinner lady are dating you, ironically.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 09:21

What does my age have to do with it? Please explain, Piggy

Piggywaspushed · 22/01/2018 09:29

Not age but you are keen to point out that the teacher's language is inappropriate (and perhaps forma bygone era of when teachers could say and do what they want as is yours to describe staff members. So I mean that this language has moved on too. Because schools are , despite what you might think, inclusive places , we don't tend to use those words any more . It is site agent and canteen staff or lunchtime supervisor, generally.

I thought you would like to know.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 09:33

thecat what do you think is actually going on with this thread, I'm intrigued?

Piggywaspushed · 22/01/2018 09:36

She thinks the OP wanted to start a row with a scenario, I assume. OP succeeded.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 09:47

Piggy thankyou for replying for thecat, don't know if he/she will appreciate that? Your previous post is just patronising and ageist.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 10:01

OP, I hope you do inform the school today and come back to let us know how it was dealt with. And well done to your dc for letting you know. This is what we try to instill in our kids isn't it, to talk to us about things? Don't quite understand how this makes the kids or us "snowflakes"?

thecatfromjapan · 22/01/2018 10:02

Piggy replied pretty well for me, actually. In far more temperate terms than I'm capable of, to be honest.

noblegiraffe · 22/01/2018 10:16

cat would you have the same concerns if the OP has said ‘this isn’t North Korea’ or ‘you’re not in a Russian gulag’?

thecatfromjapan · 22/01/2018 10:30

No. Because neither of those are alt-right dogwhistles.

noblegiraffe · 22/01/2018 10:55

Yes that’s what I thought you were getting at. Policing speech based not on offence but on kicks. Like a poo thread.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 11:15

This thread is yet another example of teachers closing ranks, unable to accept this teacher's comment as offensive, brushing it under the carpet, making light of it as in the staff room will have a good laugh and dc could have discussed it with teacher him/herself, etc. Why shouldn't dc tell op? Well done to dc, i say.
then teasing op because she dared to come on mn to discuss. And now, because I support op, I receive patronising, ageist remarks, deflection strategies and a pp who is apparently holding their tongue. Well, don't hold back cat, say what you feel? In my opinion re op's teacher, accountability is key.

DivisionBelle · 22/01/2018 11:31

Can someone please explain to me exactly why tne comment is perceived as offensive?

I am usually dismissed as ‘PC Brigade’. I always do my best to articulate why a certain phrase or action is judged ‘racist’ on MN threads.

I have a much loved relative who escaped on Kinder Transport, and who had other families perish.

I do not throw the word ‘Nazi’ about where is does not apply.

Why is it offensive to remind young people that they are NOT being persecuted by boredom / a teacher they don’t like, and to get some perspective on their lives in a free country, by telling them, factually, that they are not in a concentration camp?

Can someone please explain this?

I am not goading, I am wishing to know what caused offence.

Falmer · 22/01/2018 12:26

Division you think we live in a free country? Not so sure about that any moreHmm Anyway, to me it feels disrespectful and offensive to use the term concentration camp in this flippant, mildly chastising manner, due to the suffering that was endured in them. I don't see how you can teach kids how bad it all was on the one hand, then on the other hand use it flippantly. Doesn't make sense.

Sostenueto · 22/01/2018 13:47

Falmer have you got fed up with the ' is this a new world order?' Thread then? Op do not report the teacher. Definitely do not listen to Falmer who seems to think we dont live in a free country!

Sostenueto · 22/01/2018 13:48

Even though she/he is writing on here!