What to do when your 6 year old draws a swastika on the classroom whiteboard?

[nevergoogle]

FFS.
DS1 announced at bedtime that today he got to draw on the classroom whiteboard, but when he drew Hitler's flag the teacher told him to wipe it off immediately.

Now I know, he knows about Hitler after he appeared on Dr Who and that we discussed that he was bad because he didn't like people who had different skin colours or religions etc. He gets that Hitler is not good. He knows what a Nazi is. But he didn't realise it's not a good sign to draw.

But WTF did the teacher think was going on?

So what do we do now? Should we talk to the teacher? Apologise? Explain? Ignore? or curl up in a ball of embarrassment? or maybe even ignore.

I've got that sinking feeling. Blardy child.

Help.

for clarity - i am not a nazi.

I had a chat with DS1 this morning. He's agreed not to do it again.

DH spoke with his teacher (although different teacher to yesterday) and explained the Dr Who thing. He was fine about it, and didn't make a big deal, just accepted our explanation.

Actually, I think it's important not to make too much of a big deal over a 6-year-old's drawing. A simple explanation of why a lot of people find that symbol upsetting is sufficient. If you make a massive taboo out of something, kids find it both terrifying and kind of compelling.

yes, quite. the more of a reaction he gets, the more likely he is to do it again, just for kicks.

I teach that age-group (have done for 15 years) and the vast majority of 6 year olds would not be able to handle a discussion of Nazism (and the vast majority of their parents would quite rightly want to know what I thought I was doing bringing it up). BUT I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about a child drawing a swastika - especially since I watch Dr Who too ;-). Teachers hear and see a LOT of odd things and are most of us know not assume anything without checking it first. My niece's teacher said it best: If you agree to take only 10% of what your child says about school at face value, we'll agree to do the same about what they say about home.

It is also true that some people still consider the swastika a holy symbol and nothing to do with Nazism. I have visited quite a few houses where there are fancy swastikas on or around the front door - it's either the Sikh or the Hindu religion that venerates the symbol. I have also been to Pompeii and seen a very ancient mosaic with a swastika border, though that's less relevant.

SGB, the Hindu swastika is usually based on a vertical cross, and the Nazi one is based on a diagonal, like a kiss.
One of the theories is that the sign for light was twisted to spin for chaos and the dark. Folklore rather than evidenced I think, but there is usually a clear difference.
Teacher told him to wipe it off, that seems to be all she did. rather than overreacting and calling him a holocaust sympathiser or anything. So that seems an appropriate response to me.

I'd leave it. As others have said, the teacher probably felt there were children in the class who could not handle a discussion on the Nazis; on the other hand she could hardly let it stand either. To me, it's a bit as if he had written a rude word: he may well not have understood it, but teacher would still have told him to rub it out. There is no evidence that she went ballistic at him. As his mother, you are ideally placed to explain why it is not a good idea in terms that are just right for your individual child- I think I'd be grateful the teacher left that to me. But of course if you should find yourself standing next to the teacher in the next few days, it wouldn't hurt to mutter apologetically "I'm sorry about that thing he drew, he didn't realise what it was, we've had a little chat".

I can remember drawing them around the same age BUT my dad was in the armed forces so you can imagine the bollocking I got!

solidgoldbrass I have also been to Pompeii and seen a very ancient mosaic with a swastika border, though that's less relevant.

Wow really?

it all seems to have blown over.

he drew a naked man having a wee today.

excellent!!

WHME - Yup. One of the villa floors that had been excavated was a mosaic with a border of swastikas, so the symbol was known waaaaaay back then.

DD2 (8) spent hours over a lovely, intricate drawing a few weeks back, and proudly presented me with a giant embellished swastika. She didn't have the remotest idea what it meant; it was just a pretty pattern to her. I did gently dissuade her from sticking it on her bedroom window, though (right by our front door).

Now, a naked man having a wee - she's not drawn one of those recently.

In my house the swastika is a very positive, auspicious symbol, which unfortunately Hitler stole and warped for his evil purpose. I think his goal was to try to steal "power" from various different sources for his evil "project", hence his use of different symbols. We have a couple of (very small) hindu swastikas in our little temple which my dds like to play with.

Only very, very dim people think that Hitler invented the swastika. Petisa I think you are right, Hitler was rather fond of woo-bollocks and symbols that could be redirected to his own agenda (as lots of arseholes are).

CointreauVersial, bless their little cotton socks eh.

Same here Alpine i used to draw the swastika when I was at primary because i saw another child draw it and liked the pattern. I did not understand the connotations behind it.