General Chat

Had your daughter reported her friend for tormenting her?

Was he dealt with?

Was he offended?

I included the definition of a racist incident in my earlier post. All schools are advised yo use the definition recommended in the Macpherson Report.

Therefore, in this case, the second the boy asked "is it because I'm black" then the incident must be treated in accordance with the school's policy on racist incidents.

I would suggest as a first stage you request a copy of the policy. It may even be available on the school's website.

If the conversation genuinely went along the lines of *pulling faces* " You look like a monkey"; "Are you saying that because I'm black"; "No" then the treatment of your daughter seems quite harsh.

After all, children of all nationalities have been referred to as cheeky monkeys for years! A meeting with the Headteacher I think ....

OMD's that is ridiculous

Kitty is right all of us on this thread ar linked to a school in different ways and each school is different as is each situ you must go bk to your daughters school ask to meet the HT and the govenors and get her to write it down and then present it properly before them x

Kellie, from what you've said, I wouldn't class it as racist in intent and more an unfortunate choice of word. Sounds like it could have been sorted by a chat between you and your daughter and a teacher but I know nothing about schools now.

First instinct, I would not class that as racism in an isolated incident (thinking that when I was a kid and I pulled faces my mum would say I looked like a cheeky monkey) ...I think a private chat would suffice if really thought necessary...and as the teacher, perhaps then have a lesson on what might or might not be considered 'rascism' and why...more productive I would think?

Kellie.............we can only give our opinions, you really have to take this up with your daughter's school to get an answer.

Not one of us is in the position to help resolve the issue.

erm eek! treading on dangerous ground here like you say its friends taunting but can be seen as serious ~ have they suspended your daughter yet or is she isolated?

Edit: this is where we need to re-educate these kids

my daughter was being tormented by a friend she has nown for four years.when she told him to stop he started pulling faces, to which she said you look like a monkey it was all fun and jokes at first, untill later on when he asked her is it because i'm black(he is of mixed race) which is not the first time he's asked her this question when an inoccent comment has been made.
the teacher over heard and intervened and asked my daughter if she had made a racist comment to which she said no.

when the teacher heared monkey had been used she took her to one side and explained it could been interpreted as racist.
even though the teachers understood there was no intent to cause distress she was still punished, and her school record includes this incident as racism. i always believe racism had to include intent to cause harm which my daughter clearly didn't, and the school system has branded my daughter a racist and punished her acordingly.

is this a case of poor school procedure or pc bragade gone mad.

I think the girl on BB a couple of years ago when she used the N word didn't meant it as a racist comment either, but the bottom line was it is.

I do think this PC malarkey is going to far......And i was talking only today to my OH about Love Thy Neighbour & the things we used to say when i was at school

Uggers asks the question we all want to (well i did anyway) lol

What did she say?

its tricky now its all pc you see some find a thing rascist n it don't involve em like Rose said those woo are involved usually it goes over the head but in a classroom I fear someone can make an off hand comment and most the time they have heard it else where the ahhh's go round the room and it gains momentum teachers have a hard task but zero tolerence means exactly that and the teacher has to follow correct procedures and go through the correct channels sorry thats just how it is its not just rascim either I heard a story recently about a class having a picture of Charles the first in front of them and being asked to write one word to describe how he looked one pupil wrote the word "gay" ~ which in all intents and purposes has duel meaning that pupil was immediatly removed and suspended down to policy which I find appalling ~ put the shoe on the other foot as it were Kellie another pupil says something discriminatory against your child would you not expect zero tolerence then? The pupils are paramount in any school policy!

I agree with the word perceived as in ...

I have always said that if I was intervening, say in an argument, and the child then turned round and called me something, I would say, "You take 5, I'll take 20, find me when you have calmed down.", situations like those are where they are not thinking clearly. However, if it was intentional wherein I had no doubt whatsoever it was a direct insult, then I would have no hesitation in taking them straight to the HT.

edit

Talking personally about me. What I perceive to be one thing can be interpreted by another completely differently.

we've done the normal thing and talked to the teacher involved but all they would say was that they they had zero tolerence for a racist comments in school. Which is correct, but what they didn't seem to understand or don't care to understand is that my daughter didn't meant it as a racist comment (in fact she didn't know it was racist ) and it will now go on her school record.

Has your daughter been suspended Kellie? If so, you should have been notified of the amount of days the suspension is for, then have to attend a special meeting chaired by the Headteacher, others present.

You could, if you are unhappy, make an appointment to see the HT. Have you read the school policy on such matters?

when a pupil is racist in any way shape or form they are removed and it is investigated thoroughly by HoD/HoY to ascertain the facts they err on the side of caution to begin with but they will listen to what was said and how it was said before they have the hard task of deciding how to move forwards on it x

The keyword in this type of incident is "perceived".

If the incident or comment is perceived by anyone observing to be of a racist nature it must be investigated as such.

The Home Office Code of Practice 2000 advises that all agencies use the definition of a racist incident recommended by the Macpherson Report - "A racist incident is any incident, which is perceived to be racist by the victim, or any other person."

Tricky one that Kelly, if i call someone for example a 'Mick' ie Irish, because I have an irish background it wouldn't be intended as an insult...if on the other hand I call someone a 'thick mick" has a different connotation...

would say it is in the intent, but also the age of child, if it is meant 'knowingly' or just something she has picked up elsewhere...

You will have to take it up with the school.............they will investigate and make their judgement on the incident.