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?

I taught this novel to mainly non-white students for twelve years. You say, before you read it together, 'This part contains a word that is incredibly offensive. I will never let this word pass my lips so I will skip over it as I read. If we discuss the use of the word in class we will call it The N Word and censor it in our writing thus: n*** If this words upsets you and you feel very uncomfortable reading it we can talk about that after class if you would prefer.'

Utterly inappropriate. White people saying the word aloud only helps to normalise it, and kids will then replicate it. Making it an utterly taboo word that you never hear (particularly from white, middle class adults) is the only way to stop young people using it; if Mrs X says it aloud in an assembly, no matter the context, it just makes it acceptable to say aloud.

I had to deal with this word recently. DD who is in year 6 came home very confused as a girl in her class had been asking everyone to say vinegar without the vi. She was so confused she just ignored the girl.

She knew there was an 'n' word but didn't know what it was or why it was bad. I did say the word so she knows what it is and explained why we don't ever use it. The school she attends is vast majority white. I don't think in this context using the word is inappropriate.

Exactly this.

@Newbutoldfather · Today 16:03
“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.”

It is not fine. It may be “just a word” to you but to many it’s not. It makes me angry and upset to hear anyone say it

I think teaching kids not to say it by saying it defeats the object. And it seems like they know full well what the word is if this 'assembly' was in response to kids using that word.

Absolutely.

Maybe Reginald D. Hunter was free ?

Who is 'you'? Do you mean 'you people', the mighty black monolith? Because all black people are rappers and are there for equally culpable for the use of that word in rap music. I highly doubt the headteacher would have said the C word out loud and then asked the children not to say it.

Why

The reason i ask is, my child listens to rap music and its sang on there. Kanye West sings it on his songs. Is it offensive or isnt it? I dont get why some can say it and others cant 🤷🏻‍♀️

YANBU I never want my children to hear that word in any context. Ever. It is especially not ok for a white person to ever say it, regardless of reason.

Akala addressing N word (Oxford Union Address) This is a short snippet, the wider talk is also available.

@Jacqueline1985 Kanye West is black, though. Is your child black?

@Jacqueline1985 when I sing along with Dre, NWA or Public Enemy, I don't use that word. Even alone in my car. Kanye doesn't get put on in my car though so I can't comment.

Your child probably shouldn't use that word if he's a child. There are radio versions without it. And much better musicians!

Here we go again.

When did this happen? Because it's half term here.

Half term is not the same week for everyone. In some places, half term is not until next week. And academies can set their own term dates which may or may not match the LA dates.

It's not half term untill.next week.for my kids!

Eh? So she should pretend it doesn't exist, and that would make the problem go away
Context is key here.

Do you think head teachers routinely use slurs directed at minorities in order to make the point that the words should not be used?

Do you think teachers should be using the F word to explain slurs against gay men or dyke about lesbians?

Or should they just explain that there are words which are hurtful and have long histories of oppression which should not be said by people outside the affected communities? No need to give a dictionary of slurs.

Nice attempt at attempting to make me sound racist by putting words in my mouth.

Clearly "you" is referring to the person I was responding to 🙄

I am the least pc person in the world and often think furores about racism on here are completely ridiculous but I am also a very experienced secondary teacher.

There is absolutely no reason for a secondary school teacher/head to ever say that word in an assembly or elsewhere.

Secondly when teaching a book which has liberal use of the word I always said/asked children to say ‘n’ - the meaning and effect was clear without anyone having to say or hear a word they might find offensive.

Perhaps controversially I have also told off (though not punished) black students for using the word in my classroom. It is offensive and people shouldn’t have to hear it regardless of who is saying it.

If you think it's ok for white people to say this word you have a lot of learning to do. Apologies to all the black mumsnetters having to read this thread, it must be so depressing. Some of us get it, but it's not enough.

How on earth are children supposed to know what word to not say if the teacher can’t even tell them?? This is madness.