To think this isn't ok?

[SallySunflower15]

Would you find it concerning if a teacher or school governor at your child's school was sharing moderately racist memes and posts on social media? Is it appropriate for someone in either of these roles to share this stuff publicly when they are working in a school with a small number of BAME families?

Comment and ask her who's offended by it. She sounds thick enough to confirm her racist intent, and then you have a much "better" screenshot.

It's really disheartened me how prevalent racism is in my area. I am in the minority with my views. If I complained about her and it came out I would be seen as the bad one not her.

I’m a Chair of Governors and if anyone on the Board was posting anything controversial or offensive on SM I would want to know. Any Governor must uphold the reputation of the school and it would concern me that they may not have the interests of all pupils at heart.

In the case of that meme I would talk it through with them and satisfy myself that it wasn’t the tip of an iceberg, that it wouldn’t be repeated and that they understood the need for consideration before posting.

Please let the Chair know.

I think that it has racist undertones. I mean, sure that you could argue that it's just people being patriotic and that they have every right to. However, in the current climate (which is relevant), then the underlying message could easily be seen as 'we're British. Like it or lump it or F off back to your own country'. or at the very least 'the issue is not up for debate'. I appreciate that it doesn't say that exactly, but that's the underlying message as I read it. I'm white and moderate in my views. I would find it inappropriate.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people sharing this sort of bullshit at the moment.

Hopefully, not too many school governors.

@EstuaryBird what worries me is that the chair may also be of a similar mentality albeit maybe not so openly. I don't know the chair so it's hard for me to judge that. But believe me this is a very cliquey, 99% white community and unless I can report anonymously I would have real concerns about voicing this for fear of a backlash on me and my children. I'm ashamed to be so cowardly about it to be perfectly honest.

@LemonTT

The purpose of the meme is more sinister than that. The purpose and intent is not to directly offend BAME. It’s a call out to people that the choice here is between patriotism and anti racism. It’s not but the implication is that anti racism is unpatriotic. It’s also an attempt by racists to appropriate patriotic symbols for their cause. And finally it shifts the argument away from the need to address systemic racism and privilege.

I wouldn’t give him or her oxygen. But you can get involved with the school to challenge and address racism and privilege In that institute. Force her to do something positive and that will soon expose her views. The current protests are not about denouncing racism. It’s about making change happen in a real sense.

This is a very good summation of what this type of meme is. We gave away the Union flag in the 70s to skinheads and racists. We only got it partially back because of Cool Britannia and designers like Paul Smith. I don't want to see it handed over again.

Let the racists satisfy themselves with the St. George cross. That's the usual twat-flag nowadays.

LemonTT

Summed it up much better that I did!

Are any of the governors clergy? Or is the school attached to a church? That’s who I would plump for if I wanted to bring an anonymous concern.

Also, don’t assume that a 99% white community won’t handle it well. There’s every possibility they’ve all been sent on plentiful equalities and diversity training and - at least some of them - would welcome the chance to put it into practice.

Massively inappropriate! Also very dumb of the person.

Sally, I doubt it would be 'outing', to use her exact words, unless your name really is 'Sally' but that's up to you. The person sounds foul mouthed and ignorant.

what worries me is that the chair may also be of a similar mentality albeit maybe not so openly. I don't know the chair so it's hard for me to judge that. But believe me this is a very cliquey, 99% white community and unless I can report anonymously I would have real concerns about voicing this for fear of a backlash on me and my children. I'm ashamed to be so cowardly about it to be perfectly honest.

For the love of god OP do not be afraid speak up! We must all speak up when we encounter racism, and ESPECIALLY at the moment.

I live in a very rural area and I am appalled at the views of some people i thought I knew well, but they are in a minority, it seems that they just like share their (deeply offensive) views on Facebook!!

It is all of our responsibility to speak up; someone up thread had some great suggestions of what to post when you see these vile posts on Facebook etc. If we are stay silent and leave the racists to carry on shouting their vile thoughts unchallenged where will we end up??

The purpose of the meme is more sinister than that.

Agreed, and let's not forget that it is a prime example of Russian 'Active Measures' style disinformation. The age old Divide and Conquer. Designed to divide people into two tribes - 'Patriots/Fascists' and 'Anti Racism/Snowflake SJW' depending how you view each side. Then we all fall into fighting against the other 'tribe' and our society descends into infighting which weakens us/our government/the economy etc. rather than working together to fix the problem.

They actively chose issues which are absolutely real and absolutely need to be resolved, wind both sides up via social media and watch them go. But maybe that's another thread entirely...

Inappropriate but not racist I'd say. I'm from Scotland and people can get very funny about the union jack. It's all SNP/ pro union so says more about your political leanings.

@mrsterrypratchett

I've always hoped that minority communities in this country would fly the St George's as a big two fingers up to the far right! I'd like to see it reclaimed, just to piss them all off!

*Are any of the governors clergy? Or is the school attached to a church? That’s who I would plump for if I wanted to bring an anonymous concern.
*
^This is very good advice.

Maybe just unfriend people if you don’t like their posts rather than trying to ruin people by getting them sacked. You sound pathetic really scouring Facebook to take offence.

OP what is stopping you from contacting them directly and saying you don't find it appropriate? What a nanny state we live in where everyone is suggesting you run to the governors. jesus.

@SallySunflower15

This is why I was confused it might not be seen as racist, and I'd be kicking up a stink over nothing. Think a meme with the Union Jack flag along the lines of: if this offends you fuck off.

Please don't pile on. It made me feel uncomfortable but I appreciate it might not be seen as racist by some. But given everything that's happening in the world right now it doesn't seem very pleasant.

A union Jack is not racist. I think you could potentially be offended by that as it implies if you aren't British -go home?? Is that what you think it implies. A school here had the union flag in the window of the PE office -to celebrate the London Olympics and parents got a campaign to take it down and they did.

@DontStandSoClose hardly 'scouring' - it came up on my feed. Do you think me expressing my personal views to her would have the same effect as her employer telling her it's inappropriate in her position?

Of course the Union Jack alone isn't racist, its the wording and the undertones that went with it. Along with personal experience with her and the more extreme content her family post.

I would probably provoke her with a carefully crafted comment under her post and then report her answer which probably will be overtly racist. She does not seem the brightest, might be quite easy to do.
I know I am not the wisest of people when it comes to shit like that, so I suggest you don't listen to me.

It’s pretty unpleasant wording but it’s not racist.

Reporting anything anonymously is inappropriate and won’t do any good. Just unfriend them. They’ll get the message.

I have found that a lot of Brexiteers love to post the Union flag with similar sorts of comments. They probably don't realise that it is racist and think that it is just anti EU.

Are you sure you aren’t seeing a meme and reading too much into it? You don’t sound you like this women very much. Maybe examine your own motives for wanting to put her job in jeopardy?

@RoxytheRexy she is racist and has expressed ignorant views before. For that reason I don't particularly like her but I will pass the time of day with her at the school gates or kids parties if i really have to. She's not someone I would choose to have a meaningful friendship with.

I don't have a motive. My OP never suggested I planned to report her. It asked for general opinions about whether this was appropriate or not. Other posters have suggested reporting her. But since you ask
I don't think intolerance and racism has any place in schools no.