To consider reporting this as racist?

[puttynomo]

I'm a trainee teacher and just started in my second placement. Induction day training was about unconscious bias relating to a student survey in which pupils had reported various acts of racism in the school.

We were in random assigned teams and my team had about 7 people in, one other new guy (black). The task was to discuss a number of scenarios relating to race such as mixing up the only ethnic minority students names or a pupil reporting racism from a staff member, we were meant to discuss what we'd do in these scenarios, but basically immediately these two older women (one in particular) and a man immediately started on the defensive minimising it all, saying stuff like

'I get white kids mixed up all the time or kids that are ginger, I'm not racist, some kids have a certain look like Irish kids and I get them mixed up it's not racism' then they mocked being accused of racism when they said some of the black kids behaviour was atrocious and they deserved to be removed (one of pupil complaints was unfair targeting).

This carried on and nobody else including me could get a word in. The black guy was inbetween them and said nothing. Then the worst comment of all said by this one particular woman who'd been speaking about black pupils with complete derision the whole time she said

'What if it's just a cultural thing that black people are so aggressive, the way they speak' further justifying her removing them etc. I was actually shocked and at this point it was back to the main speaker. I had no chance to speak to the other guy but later found out it was his first day as well. My mentor was next to me and said nothing.

I felt so uncomfortable and shocked about this and it's still really bothering me. I saw the black guy in the staff room today he sat on his own and didn't speak to anyone I meant to try and speak to him but didn't get a chance.

What's the best course of action here? Was it racism? Should I speak to him and say anything? Should I report it? It's difficult as I've only just met everyone and my mentor and I don't know who those other people were. AIBU to think that this should be reported so this staff member can be spoken to? I'm shocked she is confident enough to say these things and then teaching children.

It’s “most likely to happen”.

Err no it is not. That’s just your racism talking.

@puttynomo Was this resolved?

It's annoying for sure to be addressed by the wrong name. In your circumstances t,hat seems like an adult deliberately pissing all over a child to assert some bullshit dominance, "I'm too important and you're too insignificant for me to remember your name even after all these years." I'm sorry.

How are you defining "normal people"?

Who are "the Red Guard"?

@ilovesooty I imagine those who oppose the Red Guard would also like to be able to call my child a mong as she has learning disabilities, single mothers, slags/whores, and anyone that's not white, wogs, cause you know, free speech.

It wouldn't surprise me, sadly. 😢

You know they would.

I suppose that in a world moving towards greater inclusivity, they feel left out.

In our racist training it came up that the current problem is from poc using the term “ white” derisively and that educating a reverse out of this new wave of racism was a full time job.

@DeLaRuiz I'd probably direct my anger towards white people if I'd experienced racism for most of my life. I mean, I find it hard to say, not all men.

I would absolutely report that, yes.

People never fail to amaze me, bring racist during a course about being aware of racism is a new low though!

Apparently it is re igniting racism amongst people, in a “ you call me white, I’ll call you black” way. Hence more racism than ever!

Did this happen?

Huh? What are you on about? Who thinks referring to a person as “black” or “white” is “igniting racism?”

Agree. Orwellian would not be ‘training’ it would be ‘brainwashing’

What am I on about? You think I am “ on about” something? Do you mean you haven’t heard of derision? You can’t conceive of derision being injected into words?

Yes, of course? Is it new to you? I’m in London. Are you not aware of racism being directed at being white?!

It’s not the existence of racism aimed at white people I am questioning….

You should it was suggested referring to people as “black” or “white” incites racism. Who on earth says that?

Interested to know what happened OP if you are able to share?