To think that making fun of/ deliberately mispronouncing a foreign name is a form of racism?

[Bushmillsbabe]

My daughter told me yesterday how her teacher kept referring to Rishi Sunak as Wiff -fee Sunak when talking to her year 3 class. (Not quite sure how to type it, but Wiffey as in a word people would use for smelly, rather than like a wife or like WiFi Internet). Regardless of anyone's opinions of him, I don't feel that an appropriate example for a teacher to set. AIBU? She apparently laughed when doing it, and she doesn't have a lisp.

I don't think it's racist in isolation. I do think it's inappropriate for a teacher.

I don't understand I mean it's an R surely a teacher can pronounce and R? Was she saying Whiffy ? If so that's ridiculous immature and probably racist.

I do think it’s racist. I dislike him intensely but this isn’t on. Teacher probably hasn’t thought it through and was just being silly.

South Asians being smelly or unclean is a very common racist trope.

Stupid more than racist.

Absolutely. Sunak's been the butt of some horrendous anti-Asian racism.

As someone who changed their 'foreign' sounding name because it got relentlessly made fun off due to a vague similarity to an English word frequently used in toilet humour - yes, it is racist.

This. It is absolutely racism.

There's no debate. It is absolutely racist. It's not an accident that US racists consistently referred to Obama as "Barry".

Yes she can pronounce an R, she was saying it as Whiffy intentionally as a joke, and said it several times laughing each time

I misunderstood. Yes it's racist and immature.

Ah. I didn’t think of this. This makes it much worse.

Actually- I posted too soon. It is racist! But also inappropriate for a teacher-she should keep her political opinions to herself at this age.

It is racist and as an asian mum I would have reported it to the headteacher.

I do hope that you are going to report her to the head?

Well now the ignorant teacher has a white man back in office. I guess that'll make her and a lot of people happy.

Not directly answering, but it's usually written 'whiffy'.

One of the children should ask why she's calling him Whiffy. Put her on the spot.

whether it's whiffy/richie/dishy any other of the other things he's been called by adults/in the press it's irrelevant in that as a teacher she should be showing more respect for the role of priminister regardless of her personal feelings.

It is racist - have you spoken to the school about it?

School has closed for the summer, but I will absolutely be feeding this back to the head at the start of the new term. I'm not a big fan of this teacher generally, so wanted to check that my bias against her wasn't making me over react to this specific incident.

There will usually be someone on duty to cover safe guarding reports, so its likely you can report this and get the ball rolling sooner than september.

That was my thought, she can think what she likes about him, but she is supossed to be setting a positive example to young children.
My daughter is a bit scared of her, so wouldn't challenge in the class, but she had a feeling it wasn't right so told me about it when she got home.

Intentionally mispronouncing a name is essential bullying.
Edit - I thought it was a pupil, not a totally inept politician.

I was just about to agree with you (with some exceptions) but then I saw it was about a politician. Politicians of all colours have always been fair game for this sort of thing (rightly or wrongly) .

I have tried calling the school, but no answer. I will send an email to the school asking if the head could call me.

I agree, teachers in school, shouldn't be saying such things though.