Black Lives Matter not allowed to be discussed in class

[Geppili]

AIBU to be shocked that my primary school DS told me that they are not allowed to mention or talk about Black Lives Matter. Apparently teacher said that it is a political issue and therefore against the rules to discuss? They are Year 5. I am angry and shocked.

@Geppili

I meant power as in the power to arbitrarily announce rules which the kids have never heard of. Power to choose to the next day reveal a medical condition to those same kids in a chat over lunch. Some of the kids are now fascinated about what topics can or cannot be said. They would like the rules clarified and so would I .

You think there's a list? Seriously? You've read this whole thread and still think the teacher was wrong?

I imagine the head realised that this was a subject that could become difficult in school. Maybe another child had mentioned it in another class. I'm going to guess that the head said to the staff that the subject would need careful thought and planning before being discussed in class, so not to get involved yet.

That sounds a very sensible move to me.

What rules?

StillWeRise
I'd be very worried about a teacher who felt unable to facilitate a discussion of current affairs in an unbiassed way....that's kind of their job.

And its done in a prepared, planned and balanced way. Not just off the cuff.

This is another of those threads where people have no idea of the reality of being a teacher. Which is okay as I don't have a clue about the reality of many people's jobs either. So I don't pontificate on how they should do them.

At least the teacher might have explained the rule. Why that topic is inappropriate, for example.

Was the topic inappropriate though? Or was more the way the person brought it up when they were watching a baking show?

Good. BLM is not an organisation to be supported; their goals are ridiculous and they think they can get away without being challenged on them because they selected an emotive name that doesn’t actually cover their whole agenda.

I don’t think it should be spoken about in school (at the moment). It’s caused so much conflict and ignorant views to be revealed. I think as parents you would be better discussing the topic with your children. I think it’s a sensitive topic. Similar to sex education some things may be better coming from a child’s parents. I do agree with another poster saying it is a political issue and these discussions are known to rock the boat. The teacher maybe does not know enough about BLM to educate the children as it’s not what they would have studied.

Teachers aren't allowed to talk about political issues in a biased way, but are allowed to talk about political issues. Its about teaching kids to think for themselves.

@june2007

Was the topic inappropriate though? Or was more the way the person brought it up when they were watching a baking show?

Exactly. It's not the topic, it's a) how it was brought up, and b) the teachers haven't yet had time to formulate and plan how they're going to address such a complex subject.

Maybe the teacher was just not comfortable talking about it, doesn't feel prepared or informed enough, or your school is very conservative (with a small "c") and has told teachers the issue was too hot to handle right now...Maybe it really is against school policy right now.

I would have ignored the comment, personally.

Just keep talking about it at home.

The black lives matter movement should 100% be taught in class.

It's a movement not a political organisation. Some organisations have formed off the back of the movement but that's not the main point.

Also some posters here need to check their privilege!

So - this is actually a teacher bashing thread?
It’s the rule because she is the teacher and she said that it’s the rule. That’s how classrooms work. We know nothing about this ‘poor isolated‘ (how do you know he was crestfallen?) child and his behaviour or learning issues. I bet the teacher knows how to handle to him though. There is no professional guidance to suggest a teacher can not reveal an ailment during the lunch break.

It's a movement not a political organisation.

"In 2013, three radical Black organizers...created a Black-centered political will and movement building project called #BlackLivesMatter."

"Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention" ...

blacklivesmatter.com/herstory/

Good. Marxist nutters.

Teachers aren't allowed to talk about political issues in a biased way, but are allowed to talk about political issues. Its about teaching kids to think for themselves.
But part of that is with planning and preparation, and with experience the ability to navigate the impromptu topics and questions in line with the topics studied.

I wouldn't derail a lesson based on a student shouting out 'get Brexit done' and it doesn't matter what the cause is. The teacher was totally reasonable to shut down what was a random comment.

I agree "Clavinova*. That's why it's so important people don't push unquestioning acceptance of groups who have a range of political aims.

The crazy thing is, even in the instance provided in the OP, how discussing how ‘black lives matter’ is something some posters would rather not happen.
Noone actually suggested that the teacher had to get into the political stance that ‘some’ members of BLM stand for. That is implying anyone who says ‘BLM’ are calling for the defunding of police etc
Some people, believe it or not, actually think that Black Lives Matter! Why would this have been a hard discussion for a teacher to have? Unless they found it so hard to argue why black lives do matter?
I constantly have children derailing lessons, some questions/statements wont be appropriate to discuss but something as important as this?! damn right it should have been a discussion
To the posters who say let them discuss it at home, well clearly they arent having this discussion at home, thats the problem. They are probably the unfortunate children of the idiots on these kind of threads saying ‘racism doesnt exist’ ‘all lives matter’ ‘when have black lives never mattered’ 🙄

For putting "herstory" in their url instead of "history" they deserve to be marginalised and ignored as crazy.

@mum2b2017 You put your point very well. That is how I feel/felt about it.

There is a time and a place in the classroom. I teach English and we do look at news/fake news etc. It is my job to facilitate a curiosity and a desire to learn more - it can be really hard to be non biased but I have to remain neutral to an extent (there is a line when racism/sexism occurs for example).
I had a parent email me once to thank me for her daughter's sudden interest in FGM and the plight of some girls!

Why would this have been a hard discussion for a teacher to have?

Because, believe it or not, teachers have to follow policies and the directions of their Head teacher. If the Head has said that discussion of this subject has to wait until there is a proper plan then THE DISCUSSION HAS TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A PROPER PLAN! And yes, I am shouting because you are not listening.

mum2b2017
Some people, believe it or not, actually think that Black Lives Matter!
I can't believe you're going to start suggesting that not wanting a lesson turned into an impromptu, poorly researched and unprepared discussion somehow means people thing black lives don't matter.

Why would this have been a hard discussion for a teacher to have?

Maybe some of us want to do complex issues justice in an age appropriate way.
Maybe some of us want to allocate proper space to the issues and have done appropriate research.
Maybe some of us care that often with social and political movements the main publicised aim that gets support also acts as a vehicle for other agendas and we don't think that can easily be dealt with each time someone wants to make an off the cuff comment.
Maybe some of us want to ensure that when we cover sensitive topics that we've considered how and when we will cover it rather than detour a lesson based on someone calling out a slogan.
Maybe some of us want to set the expectations in our classroom that there's absolutely room for debate and discussion but it's not just derailing a lesson whenever you want get the teacher off topic (because students where I've worked openly discuss/ed which teachers they can get off topic and consequently do little work).

@Geppili

Thanks so much for some really thoughtful replies. The context was they were watching the final of Junior Bake Off, so it was hardly derailing syllabus. A BAME child won and one kid cheered and said Black Lives Matter. And the teacher shut that comment down and said it's against rules.

I'm going to guess that there was more to that story than one child saying Black Lives Matter. If it ended there, there was nothing for the teacher to shut down. I suspect there was at least one response to the initial child, and the teacher could see the possibility of things deteriorating.

@LolaSmiles

mum2b2017 Some people, believe it or not, actually think that Black Lives Matter! I can't believe you're going to start suggesting that not wanting a lesson turned into an impromptu, poorly researched and unprepared discussion somehow means people thing black lives don't matter.

Why would this have been a hard discussion for a teacher to have?

Maybe some of us want to do complex issues justice in an age appropriate way.
Maybe some of us want to allocate proper space to the issues and have done appropriate research.
Maybe some of us care that often with social and political movements the main publicised aim that gets support also acts as a vehicle for other agendas and we don't think that can easily be dealt with each time someone wants to make an off the cuff comment.
Maybe some of us want to ensure that when we cover sensitive topics that we've considered how and when we will cover it rather than detour a lesson based on someone calling out a slogan.
Maybe some of us want to set the expectations in our classroom that there's absolutely room for debate and discussion but it's not just derailing a lesson whenever you want get the teacher off topic (because students where I've worked openly discuss/ed which teachers they can get off topic and consequently do little work).

Well said

YANBU

And the teacher shut that comment down and said it's against rules.

The teacher could hardly have got more involved than this!