Am I losing my sense of humour or.......

[jussi]

.......am I right to feel a bit hmmm?
A fellow teacher in the school where I work posted a photo of another teacher on facebook dancing comically at some social event.
Underneath was the caption SEN!!! Another couple of teachers commented ha ha.
So my opening question. I know they meant it lightheartedly but oh I don't know.What do you think?

Horrible but somehow not very surprising. I think people like that are just childish and naive with little experience of life - but maybe that will change for them one day

I'd have objected if it was someone I knew

I hate that some teachers have so little empathy that they can't understand that SEN being used in that way is offensive - it makes me wonder what they let other pupils say and do if they think that's ok

It's inappropriate, offensive and betrays and appalling attitude to SEN. However if you say something you'll probably be told to lighten up or get a life because they will have no insight into of the depth of their own prejudice.

Very unprofessional and offensive.
I don't agree that you shouldn't say anything though. If you know the person there is nothing wrong with saying you thought it was a bit off. If they tell you to lighten up, as Alison says, at least you will have planted a seed in their mind.
Evil will triumph when good men do nothing.

Fucking challange it. Twats.

Approach them and bluntly ask "Why have you labelled X's behavior as SEN when it was drunkeness/silliness, which is a choice an adult makes and can be avoided, whereas someone with special needs do not have that choice and their behavior cannot be avoided? Are you amused by children who have special needs? Do you feel that their behavior can be likened to immature drunk adults? And have you any idea how unprofessional you now look???"

I don't think you are losing your sense of humour at all....it is not actually humour, even if somewhat inappropriate humour, is it?! That would not make me laugh with or without a child with SEN.
I do think it is totally unprofessional whether it is on their own personal facebook page or not.

I also think I would mention to them that it is highly unprofessional. It's a bit sad that a teacher would think that was funny.

Thanks, at least I realise my gut feelings were justified and it is out of order.
That's what gets me as well, these teachers know that my DS has SEN but they cannot put 2 and 2 together and realise what they are doing could offend me (they probably didn't even realise that I would see the post) but they have shown just how arrogant some teachers actually are on the subject.

that's awful

jussi

Do not let this go unchallenged. Bad things happen when good people stand by and do nothing. Its crap of them to write such a thing.

Report the page in question to Facebook; they should deal with inappropriate comments.

Agree with other posters gut feeling is that it's inappropriate and it is and also agree with Attila don't let it go unchallenged. I had an incident at the chemist collecting ds2's adhd meds and didn't say anything and really wish I had because it still makes me mad! Don't let it fester x

Am I the only one who does not know what it means?

Totally crass and unprofessional.

As a teacher you should never post 'silly' photos on Facebook. It could be used against you. And in this case it should.

Though I sometimes rail against the fact I cannot operate FB, like others seemingly can, due to my job I can see this instance is way way wrong.

It is a bit crass and unprofessional, however it is the kind of humour people develop over years working with people with SN - a bit like doctors are often morbid in their humour. It should not have been on facebook though as you can only expect other people working in the same sector and who you know well to fully understand.

Another example would be that my DP is black. To people who know me personally and have met him, I can make references to this that are humorous. However I would be accused of racism on here, because the situation isn't clear.

I can see why the teacher thought it was funny, however YADNBU to find it offensive does any of that make sense?

oh thats awful for you id be so angry and i am now thinking about it no wonder we have so much prejudism and injustice within the education system if thats their attitude and its lucky for them then isnt it they dont have a disabled or child with sen in the family lucky buggers i say and as zzzzz say's if they were being racist there would be outcry but as were only talking of vunerable kids who gives a ratz arse

I have to say, knowing purple, that I don't think she meant she was using racist terms , but that without background knowledge it could be seen that way, (perhaps an example might be that we call my husbands disabled railcard and bus pass, 'wonky discount', its our family term.)

For the record I agree with the OP that it is definitely not ok for teachers to post things like this, and I would challenge it.

oh yes thats true DH is disabled and winds me up i slap him when he calls the disabled bay (he has a blue badge) a cripple bay agggh but i guess as hes the one in wheelchair hes entitled still angers me though

If I was on face book and had seen this comment from my childs teacher I would not rest untill she was removed from the school. If that means I have no sense of humor then so be it. This is outragous and this person should not be a teacher.

IMO it's no different from putting a caption up saying 'mong', 'spaz', 'retard'. The point being that it's something to be laughed at, mocked, and is a term of abuse.

I've heard from a friend that among her son's peers (9year olds) the word "special" has taken on the same connotations, has become a term of abuse.

It's despicable that teachers are doing the same thing.

That's terrible, I would take it to head! What it be acceptable if it was racist comment, no, and yes it's just as bad. Hope she's ashamed of herself!