AIBU primary teacher branding granddaughter racist

[midlifediva]

AIBU I am fuming, grand daughter was told off by her teacher and called racist, she is only 8. A child in her class siad her new hair style was horrible and made her look poor, she retaliated by saying at least I am not Russian. (the other child is Russian) She was punished by her teacher and marked as racist in some "bad mark book" The other child was not punished. She then cried and when her friends tried to comfort her they were also punished. She is good at school, works hard and is frequently praised for her kindness to others. This new teacher has overstepped the mark IMHO..

Why do they have to?

The girl hasn't been 'labelled' or 'branded' a racist. There was a racist incident which has been recorded according to the law. She will, hopefully, know better in future.

One of my grandsons was told off for doing a Chinese 'shanty eye' thing with some others. It had to be recorded and his parents were informed so they could talk to him about it. He didn't know it was wrong and now he does, he wasn't branded a racist.

slanty not shanty.

The OP explicitly says she was marked as racist in some "bad mark" book.

So correct me if I'm wrong but the child HAS been labeled as a racist.

Bit of a weird one this IMO. Yes what she said is racist BUT I don't think she said it in a racist way. She was insulted so she found the one thing different that she could find and went with it as most kids do when insulting one another. I think it was right that she was pulled up about it but the other child also needed to be told that insulting someone about the way they looked is not acceptable either.

Why do they have to?

Because incidences of racism have to be recorded.

The OP explicitly says she was marked as racist in some "bad mark" book

Indeed. And yet given I’ve yet to come across a school who has a “bad mark book” doesn’t that strike you as the way the child has described it? There will be a system the school follows - and has to follow - with indicences of this nature. It doesn’t mean the child is labelled “a racist” for every more, but that quite rightly this has been noted.

OP doesn’t know how things work in school there’s no “bad book” racist incidents are logged as it’s the law

But why would two eight year olds have 'a hateful attitude' to either poor people or Russians? The teacher isn't the adult at fault here.

Why does your racist GD have a haircut that makes her look poor? I’d be taking her to the hairdresser this weekend. While having it redone you could discuss why being racist is not ok.

Why do some posters on mumsnet on various threads persist in saying so,etching can’t be racism because x isn’t a race but a nationality?!!!

Race discrimination covers nationality

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/protected-characteristics/race-discrimination/

Why does your racist GD have a haircut that makes her look poor? I’d be taking her to the hairdresser this weekend

Don’t be a dick

Russian is not a race, therefore she wasn't racist. Both girls were nasty to each other though and should both be punished accordingly. Although, to be fair your granddaughter was only sticking up for herself against the other girls initial nasty comment.

Is she racist op? You should know deep down if yourself or children are racist if do that's where she got it from.

Russian is not a race, therefore she wasn't racist

Discrimination by race includes nationality. If only this had been covered on the thread.

If only this had been covered on the thread

If only

Along with the school’s legal duty to record this incident. I wish someone would mention that...

@JacquesHammer and what is discrimination against socio-economic status? Works both ways!

The OP explicitly says she was marked as racist in some "bad mark" book.

As people keep on saying it's not a 'bad mark' book it's a log of racist incidents which is required by law. That is not the same as labelling the child a racist. She won't go through her school life as 'that racist child' unless she keeps doing it.

and what is discrimination against socio-economic status? Works both ways!

Not a legally protected characteristic so it actually doesn’t work both ways

I wish someone would mention that...

We may as well just cancel the cheque whilst we’re at it

jacqueshammer

'Punishment' not helpful. Both kids need to be supported to learn about race/nationality/class difference and inclusion through a conflict resolution or mediation. This is a learning opportunity. Lots of ideas here cncr.rutgers.edu/conflict-resolution-at-school-on-the-playground/

@JacquesHammer actually bullying is a protected characteristic!! Which is exactly what the Russian girls comment was !

@JacquesHammer are you an expat ?

I was only really teasing, but that was definitely a racist retort from the OP’s GD. Yes, the poor thing isn’t good, but that’s the sort of comment dealt with by teachers every day (I am one, so deal with them daily!). This is children just being silly/mean/teasing etc.

A racist comment is different, and an 8 year old should know it’s not the right thing to say, assuming that message is being reinforced at home...