Racist comments

[Smith888]

Just had a blazing argument with my DS who believes his school/teachers are trying to brainwash the students.

Basically a child made a comment about a Jewish artist making his sculpture circumcised to which the teacher called him a Nazi and racist and to leave the room. I suggested to DS the child was being disrespectful in the lesson, and it’s possible the student did not realise his comment was racist. Equally, I think the teacher went too far with his accusations, and could approached it in a different way. It seems the HM dealt with it well. I simply told my son that there may be a bigger picture and we are all, including teachers, under stress; to not to let it upset him so much. He says this sort of thing is common in the school and anyone who takes a contrarian view is “silenced “ immediately.

I thought I had been quite balanced, but DS thinks I’m part of the problem now. I feel I cannot side with either because I don’t want my son to get mad and get into trouble at school.

Did I handle this well, or not?

What comment did the child make?

I fail to see how a factual observation of circumcision is racist? What exactly did the child say?

Also anti-Jewish comments aren't racist. Judaism isn't a race. It's anti-Semitic.

How old is the child in question, and what did they say exactly? I’d say the teacher calling the child a nazi was out of line whatever.

From what I understand he said a Jewish sculptor must have made his sculpture circumcised (in a joking manner). The teacher called him out for being racist as presumably it’s not just Jewish who circumcise?

I don’t think it’s racist personally, but want to stay impartial.

Apparently another kid made a joke about Greta Thumberg being mad and controlled and was screamed at by another teacher. I am trying not to get too involved as my DS anxiety is so bad.

13 or 14

I think what the comment was would be relevant here. And I would imagine the teacher said something about how that was the type of view nazis held, rather than pointing at a child and shouting "you're a nazi, get out!" You also don't know the background of this teacher and how close to home that comment might have hit. It does sound like your dc is raising a wider issue though. I don't think you have to take anyone's side, just reply in a way that lets him keep taking to you about his feelings.
(To pp, under the equality act race and ethnicity come together, the definition further includes nationality, Jewish people would receive protection for their ethnicity and under the religion and belief category.)

@iklboogeymum it is racist - it is both a religion & a race. It is defined as racism in British law.

Teachers don’t generally ‘scream’ at pupils so I suspect the account may be a tad hyperbolic from your DS.

I would probe his views on various issues though because it’s possible that he is reading material on the internet that is sending his mindset in a particular direction. What does he think about feminism, for example? That’s usually a good canary in the coal mine.

@Possums4evr that’s pretty much what I said to my son...
Yes, it’s part of a wider picture. We have countless discussions over many, many issues. I think this is more an adults against kids sort of argument. He wants me to be as angry as he is, but I try to explain there is always a bigger picture....

If your child's anxiety is high is he over reacting to what's happening? What I mean is did the Greta kid get shouted at but cos his anxiety is high he's seeing it as her being screamed at?

I wouldn't be happy with my child being SCREAMED at by a teacher at all, but is it on the interpretation.

I wouldn't worry too much about the conversation that's gone, I'd focus on your child's anxiety and what support he's getting

Calling the child a nazi and a racist was way out of line. The child needed teaching what is appropriate and what's not, not labelled and put out the room.
I think it's appalling, children can't learn if you write them off calling them names and sending them out.

I think the teacher was ridiculous to call a child a Nazi. Observing that a statue is going to reflect the culture of the sculptor is not racist and is nothing like wanting to commit genocide against a people.

One of the books on teenagers I've read (in an attempt to understand my own!) talked about not trying to solve the things they tell you - so when he's angry saying "oh that must've really made you cross" etc rather than trying to show him the other viewpoint. In the book this led to the teenager resolving it themselves, though I do not know how or if it works on all teens! But at the moment I suppose he's seeing you on the side of the adults.

First I would want to know exactly what was said. It sounds odd, but have you really got te whole story. Oh and what does the Greta Thumberg thing got to do with it? Are you sure these are not just exasperated teachers annoyed that kids are derailing their lessons and ar just trying to teach?

@noblegiraffe we are very careful about material he reads because he reads more than other kids his age for sure. We have a lot of conversations about this.

My DS views on feminism are only that more that there should be more focus on the narrative skewing towards women in third world countries. Other than he finds teenage girls extremely annoying, I don’t think that’s an issue....

@possums4ever you are right, but sometimes he goes on and on and I feel I have to make some input.

@june2007 that’s what I think and I don’t want my DS joining those kids in being disrespectful. If DS had any comments like that against him it would not be good because he is like a volcano waiting to explode.

@SleepingStandingUp my DS is in therapy as this sort of thing he finds overwhelming. I think I will talk to psychologist as to whether it’s worth her discussing with SENCO. Last time I spoke to SENCO she said she “wondered exactly how far the teacher had gone” to cause such upset...

Ah thank you @Enterthewolves.