am I oversensitive? Use of 'retarted'...

[geekgirl]

Just need a quick opinion on this please - last week dd1's class (year 6) went on a trip to a farm. On the way back one of her class mates made up a song about the animals, something along the lines of 'crazy animal, fussy animal, mentally retarded animal' . Dd1 was very upset about this - she is very sensitive when it comes to dd2 and would gladly throttle anyone who says something derogatory about disability. (Dd2 is at the same school and has DS)
Anyway, she told me and I asked why she didn't tell the teacher - she said because everyone was laughing and he found it really funny too.
The song has been sung all week apparently and another teacher said they should sing it in the class assembly next week. Dd1 got upset with this in class - her friend explained to the other teacher why, and dd1 was told to not be so silly.
Dd1 eventually had enough and finally did talk to her class teacher yesterday, who once it was pointed out to him obviously realised that it was a bit of a faux pas and got them to change the 'mentally retarded' bit. The other girls are now really cross with her.

AIBU to be upset with this all? It should never have got to the point where this would have been sung in assembly. I am dismayed that the class teacher (or anyone else for that matter) didn't point out to the children that it is not something appropriate to say. The school is usually very good with dd2 so I don't want to go in there guns blazing. But as far as I am concerned this is like using the 'n' word and just totally out of order. What do you think?

oh dear I didn't check the title well you know what I mean.

That is bloody awful. Your poor DD. I think a letter to the school is in order.

That is horrifying. The teacher should have nipped it in the bud as soon as it had been sung. Certainly not suitable to sung at an assembly.

I'll have a word with her class teacher this morning (he's also the head). Am just staggered by the insensitivity of it all - so many adults will have heard this song, and they all thought it was great?! Did it really take a 10 year old pointing out the obvious to them?

Completely unacceptable, so a letter to the head, read their discrimination policy and complain to the governors if you don't get an instant response.
You don't need to rant and froth and go in with all guns blazing. Cold fury and disbelief that a school you have found so supportive could still harbour attitudes like that will be more effective.
The teacher is completely at fault, it should never have been in any doubt that 'mentally retarded animal' was just plain wrong. He needs a bigger boot up the bum than a child telling him off.
Fantastic DD you have there!

He's the head?
Governors it is then.

good god!
Both of my children are NT but I would have been horrified at that as well. Definately a letter to the school.

spoke to the head. He was very contrite.
I explained how dismayed and disappointed I was...
He's going to talk to the teacher who told dd1 off for 'being so silly'.
I didn't want to go in there all angry really as it's a tiny school and I generally have a good relationship with them. But really... WTF were they thinking??!!

at singing it in assembly!

A few kids singing on a coach, not knowing how inappropriate it was, but for teachers to encourage it, im gobsmacked!

I would be asking teacher to arrange a talk (perhaps in assembly) about everyone being different and terms which should not be used kind of thing.

From an outside agency obviously, not teachers, sounds like the teachers need educating, more than the kids.

bloody hell, i would be seeing that teacher.
why didn't she pull them up on in at the beginning

[jaw on floor emoticon]

In what world is it right to be egging kids on with that sort of use of language? Glad you complained.

Yep, glad you complained too.

Unbelievable that the teachers thought this was ok, wtf?

You are def not being oversensitive..