To think the head teacher should never have said the N word

[LittleMissMe99]

For context the head teacher of my children's secondary school decided to address racism by saying the N word. She actually said that she had asked permission from the other teachers to say the word....they're all white.

I'm literally gobsmacked. So AIBU to think she shouldn't have said it even if it was "teaching" kids not to say it?

Better to have an open and educational discussion than try to pretend that a word doesn't exist. Context is everything for me and it was fine.

Hard to know without being there. On the face of it it sounds bad but perhaps there was some justification you're not aware of? Believe it or not, not all schoolchildren will know what the "n word" is. It could be better they learn it in school and understand the context and reasons why it's so bad rather than just pick up its meaning in their own time without realising it's highly offensive to many.

This! She used it in a constructive context.

So how are they supposed to find out what not to say? I don’t think a heavy hint will do it, though who knows.

Perhaps you could start a petition, and get her fired? Perhaps you could even drive her to suicide, like the poor woman with the mobile phone.

How was she saying it ,was she explains how offensive it was?

Used in an educational context I don’t see an issue.

It is just a word, not an incantation to summon the devil.

Schools should be places where anything can be discussed. As long as it was explained carefully, it is fine.

Some children may have never heard the word , so other than spelling it out ,and I guess they took advice from other teachers .
I'd also hope they would discuss other 70s/ 80s inappropriate titles given to other ethnic groups.

White people should never say the word, in any context.

The school should have got someone in to do this teaching if they only have white staff. Imagine how uncomfortable it has possibly made some of the children in the class.

It is possible to teach about racial slurs without saying the words. There is never a reason for a white person to say these words.

So she was attempting to ensure that her students are made aware of certain derogatory terms and how they should not be using them?
I can’t quite work out the problem here? Pretending these words don’t exist doesn’t make it so.
It of course entirely depends on how it was delivered but on the little info we have I can’t see why the word shouldn’t have been said.

That's what I was always taught and what I've always taught my children. Someone said it's just a word. It doesn't feel like just a word to me. That's why I feel so shocked I guess

Just guessing that the people thinking it's ok to say so far are white

You're white, aren't you?

Bit dramatic there

I’m interested, do you believe the same about all racially offensive language? Anti-Semitic? Other terms for perhaps travellers or Pakistani people?

Yep, but they've probably got a black friend/husband/mixed race dc, so it's OK...

was wondering that.

I can't really see the need - it's not like teachers need to tell kids what the swear words are in order to educate them not to swear. Same for this. Most know, and those that don't can be told nicely if they say innocently something they shouldn't. If they persist then they get disciplined.

Something like "there are many words that are used to insult people based on their race. It's unacceptable to be using these words in conversation with classmates, not just unacceptable to be using them to bully other kids." Job done. Kids can ask their parents or a teacher privately if they need to check specifica imo.

Oh, come on

Of course she doesn’t need to say it to tell them it’s a ‘bad word.’ Or does she routinely say cunt, motherfucker, twat?

Right.

I’m black and it makes me uncomfortable when white people say that word, I see it a lot on tiktok with white kids saying it. But agree that not all kids even know the word- maybe if the word had been put up on a screen so it could be read and more said aloud would be better. Or better still, if they could have had a black person in to talk about it.

@skippy67

White, old, and a member of another ethnic minority.

Old enough to place a value on free speech, and to understand context.

If it’s being used as part of an anti-racism message how can the context be anything but positive? It wasn’t said with a shred of racism. The word exists and is often used to try to harm. Don’t children need to be told just how powerful that word is by a responsible adult delivering a message about responsibility so that they don’t ever, ever use it lightly?

No wonder nobody wants to teach. Even words used within the strict and clear context of anti-racism are enough to make some people want to write in to complain.

‘So it could be read and NOT said aloud’