Teaching racism in primary school

[Eslteacher06]

So its Black History Month and my daughters teacher is very passionate about it.

A couple of the parents have said it's really sad that we have to teach about racism to young children because she never noticed the colour of skin before.

I have my own thoughts, but wondered what others thought? Is it reasonable to teach about racism at a young age or is it ruining innocence?

Sorry, title should say teaching ABOUT racism

Of course people notice skin colour. It is really stupid to suggest otherwise.

I think it’s important it’s taught and acknowledged. Your friend’s approach is typical whitewashing and head burying in the sand.

The problem with not discussing these things is that the children who live in homes with racists will be exposed to their views without and counter views so will think what is being said at home is right.

brushing things under the carpet because they make us feel a bit uncomfy doesn’t make the issues go away

White children have the luxury of being taught about racism in a sensitive, controlled, age-appropriate way. Non-white children don’t have that luxury.

It’s sad that the school only teach about racism during Black History Month. It’s almost as if it’s treated like Easter or Christmas, and only talked about at certain times.

They're not being taught about racism. They're being taught history @Eslteacher06.

A couple of the parents have said it's really sad that we have to teach about racism to young children because she never noticed the colour of skin before.

Presumably, these parents were white? As the rest of us don’t really need to be taught about racism, we learn about it whether we want to or not.

This.

Children the same age will be experiencing racism so all kids need to learn about it.

DDs school did a lot on racism, including info on George Floyd, white privilege, show racism the red card, black history month etc. and encouraged books like Black and British. They also had a lot of discussions at a young age about similarities and differences, not just skin colour (and hair and eye colour) but religion, cultural heritage etc. kids were encouraged to wear national dress, flag colours on certain days. Although kids learnt about racism (which is important) it was also celebratory

I'm sick of hearing that children don't see skin colour- of course they do!

As to whether we should educate children about racism, then I guess it depends in what context and how old the children are- there's a world of difference between a 4 year old and an 11 year old and what black history month might look like in different classes.

In my school it is usually just learning a little bit about a famous black person in Reception, to maybe discussing the adversities they faced and the changes they pioneered in y6.

It's fucking sad that my children had to experience racism since primary school age. Those parents sound like privileged idiots to me.

I'm a primary teacher and I've dealt with several racist incidents over the years which are usually due to the child being exposed to racist language at home and repeating it at school. There is little support from parents when their child has done/said something racist. It's so important that it is explicitly taught that racism and racist language is wrong. However, I feel like this should be taught in PSHE like other types of discrimination are. There is more to BHM and black history in general than racism.

White children have the luxury of being taught about racism in a sensitive, controlled, age-appropriate way. Non-white children don’t have that luxury.

This is so true. It’s highly likely the non-white children in your DD’s class have already experienced racism and discrimination in one way or another without even realising it.

IMO it’s more than reasonable to teach children about racism. Statements like “I don’t see skin colour” don’t actually help the issues of racism. People aren’t born racist. Racist ideas and beliefs are learnt. Usually from parents and social influences.

The earlier children understand oppression and how life can be very different for people of certain races the better.

My GC primary school has children of different ethnicities, two are Afghanistan refugees. Those children's stories would make you cry. They are now facing racism here, from primary school children, in what should be a place of safety. I'm from a mixed heritage background and as said have had racism from birth. Which meant that I spoke n to my children about it. When my DD saw it happening in primary, she spoke out. We need to be teaching our children the anti-isms asap.

They don't though. For most schools they are constantly addressing issues through their PSCHE lessons and not just race issues, but also LGBT, sex equality etc.- it's just that they use Black History month as an opportunity for a bit more of a focus on that.

I think anti-racism should be taught as early as kids learn how to talk and communicate. At primary school my nephew once declared he'd never eat another banana again - his entire self-esteem crushed in one afternoon after a cruel joke.

This!!

Of course small children see skin colour. My child came home describing her new friends by physical attributes when she couldn't remember their names - one had red hair, one had a black face. Anything else is ridiculous.

I work in a school which has a fair number of children of Pakistani/Indian origin. I wish there was national recognition event for this community as they are the largest ethnic minority group in the Uk, yet the Black History movement doesn't seem to encompass them and only focuses on the black community.

Interestingly, the most significant racial incident I have had to deal with involved a family of Black African origin who were themselves racist against children of asian origin and didn't want their child associating or paired with them for activities.

It's a balance. With little children it is really not helpful sometimes as they've never been exposed to the children of uneducated arseholes. It depends where you live.

Your friends approach to "not seeing colour" is actually a micro aggression in itself and dismisses and diminishes the consequences of racism (even subconscious racism) that some people have to deal with every day. And that's why kids should be taught about it in schools so they can challenge their thinking and we can have a better society in future. Ignoring a problem doesn't make it disappear that's just head in the sand thinking.

Of course it’s reasonable. It’s like saying we shouldn’t teach children about the PANTS rules because it might ruin their innocence learning about how to keep their bodies safe from anything that makes them uncomfortable. I first took my dd to an exhibition about racism at a museum when she was 5. The reality is that not all children have the privilege of not ever learning about racism until someone teaches them about it in primary school. For many, it’s a fact of life from much younger.

Young children learn about domestic violence at primary school, often through the helping hands programme. The words domestic violence aren't used but it's all about being safe, having support mechanisms etc. I'm sure the teaching you're referring to is equally well thought through.

Is that what you actually think?
Do you not think that schools work with this on a daily basis?