I am a teacher in a school - is this right?

[TTlover]

Hi all.

I am a primary school teacher (UK) and after the racism that has been happening in the football, I taught the children in my class a lovely lesson on equality.

The children then made equality posters and anti racism posters.

We then went to put the posters up around the school.

The head teacher approached me and asked all of the children to take them down.

I feel really upset by this. It wasn’t an issue with the blue tac on the walls as there are always posters going up from other classes.

I had to turn all of my children around, ask them to take their posters down and then come back up to the classroom with the children confused.

Perhaps I should have asked first, but I really didn’t see it being an issue.

Did I cross the line? Now I feel anxious.

@TTlover no you are not wrong and please don't let others convince you otherwise. Maybe you should ask why. But then I understand it wouldn't put u in a difficult position.

@Unfinishednam I don't see your point at all. Teaching children basic humanity is not a sin. Don't know how people could disagree with not calling other races animals and vile terms. It's like saying we can't put up say no to bullying posters because the bullies wouldn't agree.

@FrippEnos

MissKeithsNeice

That is how you have interpreted what I have posted.

Nope. You said it:

The problem with the term anti racism depends on whether you are just talking about anti racism (being against racism) or the movement spawned by critical race theory and BLM which is about rejecting your 'whiteness' and the stages to becoming an anti racist.

FrippEnos the OP posted examples - what are your problems with them? I see no mention of CRT

KittyMcKitty

I have given my response to the OP go read it.

MissKeithsNeice
Oh come off it.

You have consistently implied that it would be near impossible to work out whether people were talking about ending racial discrimination or whether they were engaging in extremist activism that requires 'white people to give up their whiteness."

This is what you posted and it isn't what I posted just your interpretation of it.

@FrippEnos

KittyMcKitty

I haven't mentioned anything about the events on Sunday, or the racists that posted the abuse.

I am posting about possible reasons why the OP might not have been allowed to put up anti racism posters around the school and the policies that schools have to adhere to when teaching about racism.

Oh sneaky, sneaky insinuation

You are now implying that that teaching racial discrimination is wrong might be something so complicated that it requires referring to a policy.

Yeh, I've read all my school policies. But I don't need to refer to them when I'm telling children that racism us bad.

My eldest had faced some really awful racist bullying at school. This week has brought it all back, anti racism statements are everywhere. I agree that they need to be, but for children who have faced racism they need somewhere to escape it for a while, I don't want the memories bringing up every time he walks down a corridor at school.

MissKeithsNeice

Wow more twisting of my words, whilst also admitting that your school has policies in place.

As much fun as this is.
It really isn't going anywhere and as you already have your mind made up about me. So have a good night and enjoy.

@nothingyet

Everything you have said her is bonkers. Too much to mention, except I ask you to google BLM and find out what it is about Clue- Marxism comes up a lot).*

I'm really happy to go through any aspects of my first post that you find "bonkers." I appreciate you feel there's a lot wrong with the post, so we can just look at one aspect of it? Where shall we start?

@nothingyet

Everything you have said here is bonkers. Too much to mention, except I ask you to google BLM and find out what it is about Clue- Marxism comes up a lot).

I'm really happy to go through any aspects of my first post that you find "bonkers." I appreciate you feel there's a lot wrong with the post, so we can just look at one aspect of it? Where shall we start?

I think you sound like a brilliant teacher! Caring and kind!

Look forward to your well earned school holidays, you deserve it, teaching is so hard but so rewarding!

Strawberrydonuts is spot on and put it so eloquently.

Remember OP racism can also be the other way round. So you have to try and deliver your message very carefully and sensitively.

I went into a pub in the Midlands to use the loo, where it was occupied purely with black men and I was told in no uncertain terms to get out because: "We don't like no milk in our coffee."

For the record, I am not racist . We are ALL each and every one of us,
human with feelings and should all be treated equally.

And whatever the racist hooligans posted (I was far too upset and angry to view it) about our wonderful young Black players in the England team is utterly disgraceful and shameful behaviour.

“lunar1

My eldest had faced some really awful racist bullying at school. This week has brought it all back, anti racism statements are everywhere. I agree that they need to be, but for children who have faced racism they need somewhere to escape it for a while, I don't want the memories bringing up every time he walks down a corridor at school.”

What an interesting perspective and important aspect to know about ‘lunar1’.

Posters around the school aside, what do you think it would it have felt like for your eldest to have had racism spoken about in their class in primary school by the teacher?

A long time ago now (Windrush generation) the head teacher of my small primary school talked to my class who were all white, absolutely furious that she had heard that some black siblings in foster care, who had recently joined the school, had been called racially slurring names. She said it was absolutely forbidden. But the children in question were not in the class and didn’t have to hear it.

Working with children, I know they are not stupid. If the government says that primary aged children should be taught about sexual intercourse, condoms and contraceptive pills, then why should I have to not inform them about the behaviour that happened the other night?

Why are we turning a blind eye to it?

@TTlover

Working with children, I know they are not stupid. If the government says that primary aged children should be taught about sexual intercourse, condoms and contraceptive pills, then why should I have to not inform them about the behaviour that happened the other night?

Why are we turning a blind eye to it?

But it's not about your rights. It's about what's helpful to the children in learning about the world. Do you see what I mean?

@TTlover

Working with children, I know they are not stupid. If the government says that primary aged children should be taught about sexual intercourse, condoms and contraceptive pills, then why should I have to not inform them about the behaviour that happened the other night?

Why are we turning a blind eye to it?

Have you actually talked to the head yet?

“MissKeithsNeice

Owe bravo @FrippEnos - you just implied anti-racism was a theory”

I did not read it that way. The words used were ‘certain theories as facts’- I took that to refer to the theory that evolution is not true or that a person can be born in the ‘wrong body’ both of which ideas are known to have been taught in schools quite recently.

“Notmoresugar
I went into a pub in the Midlands to use the loo, where it was occupied purely with black men and I was told in no uncertain terms to get out because: "We don't like no milk in our coffee."

Are you a man ‘Notmoresugar’ or was that a mixed sex loo? I know this isn’t relevant to the thread but I wondered. It sounds intimidating. It makes one realise too how it feels for a black person among a larger group of rejecting white people.

@ScrollingLeaves

“lunar1

My eldest had faced some really awful racist bullying at school. This week has brought it all back, anti racism statements are everywhere. I agree that they need to be, but for children who have faced racism they need somewhere to escape it for a while, I don't want the memories bringing up every time he walks down a corridor at school.”

What an interesting perspective and important aspect to know about ‘lunar1’.

Posters around the school aside, what do you think it would it have felt like for your eldest to have had racism spoken about in their class in primary school by the teacher?

A long time ago now (Windrush generation) the head teacher of my small primary school talked to my class who were all white, absolutely furious that she had heard that some black siblings in foster care, who had recently joined the school, had been called racially slurring names. She said it was absolutely forbidden. But the children in question were not in the class and didn’t have to hear it.

I honestly don't know, I have so much to learn.

I'm white, I always thought I understood racism and how it affects people even though I could never experience it myself.

What was said over a period of time to my son was horrendous. I've never felt rage like it. I was so angry and panicked at the same time, it was like I was being crushed and I couldn't breath, this doesn't compare to how my child and husband felt.

I know I will never in my life let an aggression I hear go unchallenged. I've spent a lot of time reading, talking to people in the last few months. And I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.

Personally I don't think this is a topic to tackle on a whim by a single teacher. It needs to be planned, and coordinated and follow up provided within the whole school community.

Parents need to be informed when topics like this are being discussed so they can support their children at home. Teachers need to have the time to check in with individual pupils, the tole that racism takes on an individual is enormous and should not be taken flippantly, no matter how well meaning.

Which would be a valid argument if we were talking about evolution or gender.

But we weren't. We were talking about racism. Which made her use of the word theories really insidious. Just by casually throwing the word in there she managed to make a link between antiracism and properly problematic issues.

That post was a response to @ScrollingLeaves

Thank you for explaining, ‘lunar1’.
A chill has gone up my spine from the feelings you have expressed on the basis of your family’s experiences.

@lunar1 I completely understand what you’re saying. This lesson was not on a whim. We have just learned about the Windrush Generation and have important people like Rosa Parks as our house leaders.

I don’t feel that racism should be a taboo subject. Why can equality not be openly discussed?

Please note that I was sharing about racism both ways. E.g. the stereotype that white people enjoy roast dinners.

A Muslim boy in my class openly shared about his experiences unprompted. The rest of the class showed kindness and compassion.

Fucking hell, don't compare racism with a stereotype about white children eating roast dinners.

You don't get it and if you think that's an ok comparison you shouldn't be teaching it.

[quote TTlover]@lunar1 I completely understand what you’re saying. This lesson was not on a whim. We have just learned about the Windrush Generation and have important people like Rosa Parks as our house leaders.

I don’t feel that racism should be a taboo subject. Why can equality not be openly discussed?

Please note that I was sharing about racism both ways. E.g. the stereotype that white people enjoy roast dinners.

A Muslim boy in my class openly shared about his experiences unprompted. The rest of the class showed kindness and compassion.[/quote]
Did you talk to the head?