Report this staff member at school?

[Bellee108]

I came into the school at lunch time, visitor to the school. It was end of lunch. Over heard lunch time supervisor saying all the children are feral and then ‘I think half of them are inbred’?

I wouldn't have been particularly happy to overhear that and think it's wrong, but seeing it written on here made me laugh....sorry

I am curious what she meant by that. Some comments suggest that people in different regions interpret it a little bit differently.

To me, that means she was focusing on the kids who have some sort of developmental/ physical issues as a problem. So not on at all. I’d email the headteacher because I’m tired of rude, thoughtless people around our children.

From my DC's description of what the lunch hall at their school is like, lunchtime supervisors have to put up with absolutely horrendous behaviour. When you put hundreds of children together with minimal adults to supervise, most of whom don't have the authority in the children's eyes that a teacher has, then you get situations where the children egg each other on and some start doing unacceptable things. You couldn't pay me enough to do that job.

It's not an ideal thing to say, but I wouldn't report someone for letting off a bit of steam by making a private remark to a colleague. If I witnessed them speaking inappropriately to a child, that would be different, but a conversation between adults is not something I would report. What are you hoping will happen - the lunchtime supervisor to get fired and then there are even fewer adults supervising? Did you witness the behaviour that led the adult to make this comment?

Is this primary or secondary out of interest?

Whereas a lot of staff are tired of rude children and unsupportive parents

It is called Freedom of Speech! What action should be taken? Should the person loose their job, receive a warning or some sort of training?

They were letting off steam.

Now if the person had said this to the (I liked this from a PP@TalulahJP),
“…..little bast, er i mean darlings…..” that would be different!

I have used both terms, in reference to some of the youth and their behaviour, in some areas where I live, in the past!

@itstheteaThat doesn’t excuse a lack of basic respect for the children.

If it's a joke, then why have a problem with OP sharing what she heard? If it's ok to say disrespectful things about children you work with and it's just ...uh..'banter'

It's problematic because it reveals a 'looks down on' attitude via what was said and is inappropriate

This sounds interesting! Can you explain more ?

You cant prove they said it though, so I'd leave it. If you suspect this person really does have a bad attitude though, I'm sure other more substantial evidence will present itself eventually, and then you might have more of a case.

She didn't say it to them!

You believe?
What do you hope to achieve?

I have referred to all the children in general as 'being feral' on days where lots of them are a bit wild and not behaving very well, but no I don't refer to them as little shits or bastards. Nor have I referred to any individual as feral. That's just unnecessary and nasty. Would you find it acceptable if nurses referred to patients in this way? Your elderly parents carers?

I think I would, actually. I don't think that it should occur to anyone working with children to speak about them in that way, directly or indirectly.

I don't think there is actually a grey area here or any excuse ('bad day' etc.). It's not 'banter' and it's highly inappropriate.

I think I would either speak to the person directly and tell them that I had overheard the comment - or yes, report it but I might consider not giving the name or a description of the supervisor so the school can have a general word to all staff about how they speak about the young children in their care.

So you have called them feral

I rest my case

Im over 40 and still remember the dinner ladies as they were called then being absolutely horrible, they'd be busy bodies who had favourites. Id report.

Feral = wild.

It's nothing like calling them inbred/little shits/bastards which you think is perfectly fine.

Honestly a lunch time supervisor is a tough poorly paid job. Not sure it's worth getting someone in trouble over one comment on what might have been a very bad day as they are back after the hols.

Feral technically means an animal living wild which is either domesticated, or the descendant of a domesticated animal.

(Well that's my limited understanding).

I have worked in the nhs for 30y. I have heard every kind of insult and challenging interaction from patients and their families. I have never spoken to a colleague about patients using offensive language like this and would take a dim view if I heard colleagues using words like ‘inbred’. It’s extremely unprofessional, esp when describing vulnerable groups. Stress and high workload do not excuse language like this. Nope.

What makes it throwaway? Would it be throwaway if he/she had said something racist? No? That’s different is it, how so? Please explain

OP, YADNBU! What if one of the children had heard it? One who understands what ‘inbred’ means. Nope, I’m sorry but she/he needs reporting. Now.

I don't see there being any difference between feral, Little shits or bastards 🤷‍♀️

My point is that anyone working with children will have said something similar and you claimed you never had but you have called them feral

Which makes my point

We were having this conversation at the weekend. The first week back would be a challenge. The children have eaten lots of sugar, had late nights, Santa came.

My grandchildren were definitely wired. On Saturday. Then school was cancelled on Monday because of the snow.

Geez, it was a joke...let it go. I call my osn kids feral on occasion. Not in bred obviously, but lighten up... I doubt it was meant genuinely.