So there we were, in a nice quiet exhibition of ancient manuscripts, when in comes a class from an East-End primary school with barely a white English child among them...

[frogs]

...and they were the most delightful group of children I have encountered, possibly ever. It was the SACRED exhibition at the BL, with loads of ancient religious books from Christianity, Judaism and Islam, very low lighting, and packed (it closes next week) with educated upper-middle class oldies (the demographic dh and his colleagues call "Silver Scholars"). You get the picture.

There was a bit of an initial shudder when a classful of kids piled into this rarefied setup, but they were just so fab -- interested, enthusiastic, polite, working beautifully on the tasks they'd been set, that quite a lot of the visitors stopped looking at the exhibits and watched the kids instead. We go to quite a lot of exhibitions, and encounter a lot of school groups, state and private, and it's rare to encounter a class you think is so great that you wish your own child could join.

I just wanted to share the warm fuzzy feeling, really, and offer it up as an antidote to some other threads.

I think in the battle against prejudice in society, words are very important.

And I'm sorry but assuming that kids aren't english just because they are black or brown is so out of touch. (Or that they are more likely to be badly behaved, but I mentioned that earleir...)

Anyway rant over, sorry if I offended anyone.

Frogs gave her post that title in the hope that all the "my child is the only white face in her class isn't it terrible?"brigade would pile in hoping to find a like mind. And they didn't. So yah boo sucks to them. I can't believe that sho has been so misunderstood - lighten up, people! Thank you for your story, frogs.

she never said the kids weren't English.

'barely a white English child' sounds like a nice mix of multicoloured English children and other more recent arrivals who'd probably still call themselves Polish or whatever. With just one or two anglo-saxon or celtic kids for extra variety.

well I stick to my opinion and don't apologise for anything

and you can take your ffs and get reals and smoke em for all I care

Children are boisterous and noisy, they have tons of energy but unless you put them into situations like the museum and restaurants (and make some allowances for them) they will never learn how to behave properly.

You go into a restaurant in europe the children are as welcome as the adults and they know how to behave, you go into a good restaurant in this country with your child and they would look at you as though you had pooed on their carpet.

"And I'm sorry but assuming that kids aren't english just because they are black or brown is so out of touch. "

where did she say that????

"I just wanted to share the warm fuzzy feeling, really, and offer it up as an antidote to some other threads. "

I think this last sentence of the OP makes it clear that this was not trying to offend, but actually the opposite.

but

would the OP write to the school using the words "a class from an East-End primary school with barely a white English child among them..."

er, no, becuase she would probably be worried she would offend the school

so there

haven't read all the thread but agree with olive and bluejelly.

what on earth has their colour or ethnicity got to do with anything?

just imagine if the title had read

So there we were, in a nice quiet exhibition of ancient manuscripts, when in comes a class from an East-End primary school with only one muslim child among them...

they were the most delightful group ......

far better to say just how well behaved these school children were at this exhibition. (imvho)

If you read the top line it says 'barely a white english child'

Implying that there were hardly any english kids there

ARGHHHH - her thread title was SO obviously a dig at the "only white child in the class" one from a few weeks ago.

She was making the point to MN'ers - in the thread title - not to the bl**dy school.

And yes she says

Barely a white English Child -

not

barely a white English child.......

(although I guess if you're wanting to get on your high horse about it you're probably refusing to read it any other way than the 2nd way........)

Or you could read the threa title as there being barely a "white Ebglish" child, but there where "black or asion (or other) English" children. You can read the title in many ways.

I still think the last line of the OP makes it clear why that comment is there.

Nadine - you really need to read this thread before commenting on it - it's not what it seems.

Bluejelly - white English child as opposed to black English child?

Maybe she should have put it in inverted commas - then she woulsn't have had all this unjustified criticism.

so its ok to say it on mn but not in a letter to a school

That was a lovely post Frogs and I'm sorry it's been twisted out of context.

You see I didnt get offended by the title of the other thread either.

I can understand any parent being concerned if their child is the only white, black, deaf whatever child in the class because anything which makes a child "different" also give other children something to pick on, some children in this position cope well and some dont. Just another parent asking for support from other parents that they are doing the right thing to make their child happy.

np - in the letter it would be a totally different context though, so wouldn't be appropriate. Here on this MN thread it is being used in a certain context, an a "antidote" to a previous thread, and therefore in context and appropriate for its purpose.

bluejelly, I do agree that words are important in this scenario but I really do believe that to pick up on and challenge every nuance of words used when the SPIRIT of something is clearly inclusive and positive, is just counter productive and leads to lots of people feeling "oh, god we can't even say this or that, I give up, people are too sensitive and I'll just talk to my own little group where it's all easy".

but hula
the other thread was wrong (IMO)
doesnt make this one right though

im off

contentiouscat - I also didn't get offended by the title of the other thread. Almost all children IME want to fit in and be the same. Anything that makes them feel different can be difficult for a child. However I think that other thread went astray with some rather offensive comments - the type that this thread title is having a dig at.

seeker - I don't need to read the whole thread - I might well have been the first poster. I agreed immediately with OO.

QoQ - how you read any post/title has always been a bone of contention.

I read the title together with the OP as meaning that the public at large expect non-white primary children to behave inappropriately at exhibitions. I don't think that is the case at all!

This is SO typically mn.

things like this we have to agree to disagree and let it go

HG, yes indeed

that's almost certainly another fine mumsnetter gone

cheers

yes because she was referring to an earlier thread (or threads perhaps - been some on immigrants and their role too) on MN - the school know nothing of the previous thread so there's no point in telling them!

And the chances are their Ofsted report probably mentions that there are a high number of children from ethnic minority backgrounds - so it's hardly going to be shocking news for them if someone points it out anyhow. And also Frogs could use it as a positive to highlights how very wrong the stereotypes of such schools/pupils are.