Offensive word used by teacher

[UpTree]

I’m wondering what to do in this situation (although I think I know what you’ll all say)

I’m a trainee teacher in secondary and started my placement two days ago, so I’m very new to the school.

Yesterday and I spend the day following a student and observing all their classes. Year 7.

One particular science class about chromosomes flagged a question from a student about Down Syndrome and how it is caused. The question from another followed asking what Down Syndrome was and the teacher described it as a type of mongolism!

I was pretty shocked when I heard him say it, he mentioned it twice in the last half hour of the lesson.

He’s HOD, very experienced, near to retirement age, been there a long time.

I’ve not mentioned it to anyone else yet, but I know I should, shouldn’t I? I think if I was more established in the school I’d have flagged it up yesterday, but as I’m very new and only theee for 6 weeks I having doubts.

[MaisyPops]

I would mention it in your mentor meetings and take it from there.
This is what i always tell my trainees: Safeguarding goes to safeguarding lead and anything else goes to your mentor or in school coordinator.

As a mentor then I can pass on to relevant people or if it's something or nothing deal with it myself.

It's not a safeguarding issue and it's not really the role of trainees to be going and correcting established staff (however true and valid their ideas may be). At the end of the day, you're there to train to teach and that needs to be your focus.

[CoastalLife]

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that he would treat a disabled child any differently to anyone else for goodness' sake. He just used an outdated word. It's actually quite ageist to assume that someone is prejudiced just by virtue of the fact that they are coming up to retirement age. Some very lovely, very kind and community-minded elderly family members of mine used to volunteer when they were young at social groups and camps for children who had Downs Syndrome. That is the same word they used to describe the children because that's just what the terminology was back then.

[PurpleDaisies]

I would mention it in your mentor meetings and take it from there.
Yes! Forgot about school mentors. I haven’t had a trainee for a while. This is definitely the best course of action.

[nocoolnamesleft]

In 1961 nineteen international experts, including his grandson Norman, wrote jointly to the Lancet suggesting the name should be changed to Down’s syndrome. At the request of the People’s Republic of Mongolia, the World Health Organisation adopted the recommendation in 1965 and Down’s syndrome was then to become a universally accepted descriptive term. From www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about/history-of-downs-syndrome-2/

So the official terminology changed over 50 years ago. Unless he's been a science teacher for over 50 years?

[sausageees]

You must have a mentor in your department, my first action would be to speak to them. They are likely to know this teacher better than you and should know an appropriate course of action (I.e if they should be approached directly etc.) If they brush it off as nothing then I would go to the safeguarding lead because it will definitely be dealt with then.

I had a similar situation where a senior member of staff referred to 'coloured' students. Not out of anything malicious, just a term she mistakenly believed was ok. I mentioned it wasn't an acceptable term any more and she hasn't done it since.

In all the years I've been teaching we've never had training on acceptable terms apart from during my PGCE. I can see how these things happen even though they shouldn't.

[UpTree]

Thanks maisie and sausage

[WofflingOn]

I’m a similar age to him, there were lots of terms in use in the late 70s that are unacceptable now. As a teacher, you have a responsibility to understand that educationally sub-normal, half-caste, spastic, coloured, mongol/oid and such vocabulary are completely unacceptable in 2019.
Stay in the job, move with the times. Flag it up.

[AmazingGrace16]

I would speak to the professional mentor for the school. not your subject mentor as it's likely they won't know what to do. It's not a safeguarding issue but it is something that should be raised. Chat to whoever is in charge of ITT for the whole school and just let them know it didn't sit well with you and you were concerned if children repeat it.

[butterflywings37]

Who is your mentor at the school? I'd mention it to them as whilst it's not a safeguarding concern or a whistleblowing incident, it is unacceptable and they need to be told.

[Sethis]

I'd flag it with him first, in a polite, friendly, and non-accusatory way.

If he responds with genuine surprise and remorse, and says he will stop immediately, then you can probably leave it there. It's absolutely possible that he just doesn't know.

On the other hand if you don't like the way he responds (you think he's being disingenuous, or combative, or whatever) then flag it to the mentor as well, let them take care of it.

[LadyLapsang]

Well I am not far off 60 and,I have never heard anyone use that term as an adult. Why did you not interject, "Of course we call it Downs syndrome today, don't we Miss Smith. "

[Piggywaspushed]

I find that a very odd way to explain something to children. There is no way using such a dated term would have clarified or enhanced understanding for them in any way. It most likely left them baffled.

On another note, my actual headteacher still refers to people as coloured, as does the (otherwise very lovely and enlightened) now retired pastoral deputy.

[Cauliflowersqueeze]

Agree with maisy. Ask your mentor for advice.
As the mentor I’d ask his line manager to speak to him about this word.

[MaisyPops]

Sethis
I wouldn't suggest a trainee approaches staff directly about issues (keeping general here)

Firstly, because they are a trainee. Schools have formal lines and workplaces have unwritten rules. It's not their place to go to colleagues they don't really know and correct them on elements of their teaching.

If they do though, they might get a receptive and sincere apology, or the person sees part of their point but equally walks off thinking 'you're a trainee so come back once you've actually got the craft', or they get arsey and blunt with the trainee, or they go straight to the mentor and want to know why the trainee is walking around the place criticising staff and then the trainee quickly develops a reputation for being a know it all and quote arrogant.

One of the standards is professional relationships and a trainee taking it upon themselves to go around challenging and correcting staff isn't the way to build professional relationships. Forming those professional relationships means working out who and what to challenge and when/how to do it.

Usually for a trainee that means going through their mentor for things in classrooms.

Why did you not interject, "Of course we call it Downs syndrome today, don't we Miss Smith. "
Because for someone sitting in the back who is still learning to publicly undermine a member of staff is really unprofessional and can have an impact on classroom climate with students.

It's like times when I've passed colleagues not handling a behaviour situation well, even though I'm more 'senior' I don't weigh in and undermine the teacher. I use alternative angles/skills to diffuse the situation and might then talk to the teacher away from students.
Trainees are still working out how a classroom runs, how schools run and so haven't (understandably) got the range of interpersonal skills such situations in a school context. Even for career changers like myself, part of the training year is as much finding your feet in a new environment as it is learning to teach.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

I don’t get why this would be a safe guarding issue.
Why a disabled child would be unsafe.

Whilst the name might have changed in the mid 60s I know the term was still in use well into the 70s.

[TheFallenMadonna]

It's not the 70s. 1979 was 40 years ago, and there is no excuse at all for someone working in a school not to be aware of changes.

[CuckooCuckooClock]

I'm pretty shocked that a teacher would be so ignorant as to use language like that. Definitely needs correcting. Teachers have a moral duty to promote a prejudice-free society imo.
It's not damaging to a professional relationship to tell someone they've used offensive language. Blimey.
My advice - if you feel comfortable tell the teacher yourself. If not, the your mentor.