Racial comments at school - how to handle it

pollypenny

TheEquilibrium wrote: »

Oh dear. Sorry to report that it hasn't really stopped. Different children this time and very low level childish stuff 'You are going to give us Ebola', 'You are a member of ISIS'.

with the exception of one piece of vile racism the rest of what has happened could be passed off as childish name calling I Wouldn't make a big deal of any one incident but I do worry about the cumulative effect it will have on my sons confidence, in exactly the same way as someone who is repeatedly teased for being fat, or ugly, or stupid, or red haired.

I think my issue is not just trying to stop this happening but to equip son with a strategy to deal with being teased, and help him avoid feeling like a victim. That seems much more difficult.

This has escalated and I think you are right to worry, Equilibrium.

I'd say it's time for urgent, formal talks with the head, not to label any children as racists, but to ask what strategies they have to teach about all culture and about acceptance if differences.

I feel for you and your son.

bouicca21

Yes, definitely time for urgent talks with the school. Much depends on whether this is generalised bullying or whether the children concerned are part of a specific social group, but your son has clearly become identified as an acceptable victim, at the bottom of the pecking order. This in itself suggests his self confidence isn't great, and it will simply deteriorate still further without intervention. Is he the only non-White child in the class? Is he the only one of Indian heritage? Are the others jealous of him?

The other strand to the solution is to find strategies to boost his self confidence.

Buzzybee90

TheEquilibrium wrote: »

Oh dear. Sorry to report that it hasn't really stopped. Different children this time and very low level childish stuff 'You are going to give us Ebola', 'You are a member of ISIS'.

with the exception of one piece of vile racism the rest of what has happened could be passed off as childish name calling I Wouldn't make a big deal of any one incident but I do worry about the cumulative effect it will have on my sons confidence, in exactly the same way as someone who is repeatedly teased for being fat, or ugly, or stupid, or red haired.

I think my issue is not just trying to stop this happening but to equip son with a strategy to deal with being teased, and help him avoid feeling like a victim. That seems much more difficult.

Their insults make no sense. I'd be tempted to ensure he explains to them how stupid and nonsensical their insults are.