When a student calls everything "racist"

[Anonymous]

The teacher needs to handle this, not a volunteer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"No I won't sit in my seat. That's racist."
"Why are you asking me to pull up my mask? That's racist."
"Why'd you tag me? You're racist."

These are the type of comments said to both the teacher and other students by an 11-year-old. What's a good way to engage this student?

Background: This is in a weekend program at a museum where I just started volunteering for as a teacher's aide. It's a new group of students, so there's no history or background between this student and the authority figures. In fact, since the kids come from a lot of different schools, there's so not much history with the other kids that I know of. The kids are roughly 1/2 white, 1/4 black, 1/4 latino. The teachers/adult volunteers for this particular class group are white or Asian. This particular student ended up sitting in a corner refusing to participate most of the session.

It’s the perpetual victimhood mentality of today’s kids, particularly minority kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is about a student having a hard time for whatever reason, and using the most explosive term they can legally say to object to participating. It isn’t about race or racism, it’s about a boy who is struggling. Treat it that way, and you’ll probably find a solution.

This. He doesn’t have an outlet to express how he really feels. He’s hoping he gets kicked out of the activity.

[Anonymous]

If it was me, I’d call her bluff. I’d say no it absolutely is not and by throwing that term around you’re diminishing the very real impact of racism. Then I would remind the student this class is a privilege and she needs to quit derailing it for everyone else. I’d also alert the higher ups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"No I won't sit in my seat. That's racist."
"Why are you asking me to pull up my mask? That's racist."
"Why'd you tag me? You're racist."

These are the type of comments said to both the teacher and other students by an 11-year-old. What's a good way to engage this student?

Background: This is in a weekend program at a museum where I just started volunteering for as a teacher's aide. It's a new group of students, so there's no history or background between this student and the authority figures. In fact, since the kids come from a lot of different schools, there's so not much history with the other kids that I know of. The kids are roughly 1/2 white, 1/4 black, 1/4 latino. The teachers/adult volunteers for this particular class group are white or Asian. This particular student ended up sitting in a corner refusing to participate most of the session.

Representation matters. Why aren’t there any volunteers that look like the kids that you serve?

Are you black? Why don't YOU go volunteer? DP.

[Anonymous]

Kids this age love to get a rise out of adults. Clearly it’s working.

Also, kids this age don’t know! They are just learning about racism and the challenges of being black in a predominantly white country.

I would completely ignore it. Just pretend to be deaf to it with this kid and treat them the same as if they weren’t saying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it was me, I’d call her bluff. I’d say no it absolutely is not and by throwing that term around you’re diminishing the very real impact of racism. Then I would remind the student this class is a privilege and she needs to quit derailing it for everyone else. I’d also alert the higher ups.

Wow. This is very bad advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP my teacher instincts say that you need to lean in "Gloria Ladson-Billings style", and search for a connection with this girl, both personally and to the museum program. Make it a goal to have 1-2 positive interactions with this girl in the moments before the program starts.

Another teacher here. This is a good suggestion. I think, though, that the interaction with this young girl will be so infrequent (once a week for a few hours) that while perhaps the positive interactions will be helpful what will be more immediately helpful is if the teacher and OP talk to the parent.

To others: notice I said "talk" to the parent, not "report" to the parent or "complain" to the parent. But "talk" to the parent.

The parent signed up the daughter for the program for a reason. Either because the daughter expressed interest or the parent thought it would be a good enrichment activity for the daughter. My interpretation of the girl's words are that she was intimidated. It could be that the group looked differently than she was expecting, it could be that the environment (a museum!) was more intimidating that she was expecting (even if she had visited it previously), it could be that people were dressed differently, etc. The parent may have insight AND the parent will be able to help you address it.

Either way, this is a girl who needs some love. Her ostracization of herself from the group shows that. Work with the teacher to talk to the parent and see what the parent has to say. I hope the girl returns to the next class. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

The liberal end game. You are a white supremacist to question “their truth”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"No I won't sit in my seat. That's racist."
"Why are you asking me to pull up my mask? That's racist."
"Why'd you tag me? You're racist."

These are the type of comments said to both the teacher and other students by an 11-year-old. What's a good way to engage this student?

Background: This is in a weekend program at a museum where I just started volunteering for as a teacher's aide. It's a new group of students, so there's no history or background between this student and the authority figures. In fact, since the kids come from a lot of different schools, there's so not much history with the other kids that I know of. The kids are roughly 1/2 white, 1/4 black, 1/4 latino. The teachers/adult volunteers for this particular class group are white or Asian. This particular student ended up sitting in a corner refusing to participate most of the session.

Representation matters. Why aren’t there any volunteers that look like the kids that you serve?

Do you know the definition of the word “volunteers?”

Do you know the definition of the word recruit.

[Anonymous]

What do their parents say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"No I won't sit in my seat. That's racist."
"Why are you asking me to pull up my mask? That's racist."
"Why'd you tag me? You're racist."

These are the type of comments said to both the teacher and other students by an 11-year-old. What's a good way to engage this student?

Background: This is in a weekend program at a museum where I just started volunteering for as a teacher's aide. It's a new group of students, so there's no history or background between this student and the authority figures. In fact, since the kids come from a lot of different schools, there's so not much history with the other kids that I know of. The kids are roughly 1/2 white, 1/4 black, 1/4 latino. The teachers/adult volunteers for this particular class group are white or Asian. This particular student ended up sitting in a corner refusing to participate most of the session.

Representation matters. Why aren’t there any volunteers that look like the kids that you serve?

Do you know the definition of the word “volunteers?”

Do you know the definition of the word recruit.

DP but left wing political activism were pretty clear that we aren’t supposed to ask WOC for their unpaid labor. Puts orgs like this in a bind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"No I won't sit in my seat. That's racist."
"Why are you asking me to pull up my mask? That's racist."
"Why'd you tag me? You're racist."

These are the type of comments said to both the teacher and other students by an 11-year-old. What's a good way to engage this student?

Background: This is in a weekend program at a museum where I just started volunteering for as a teacher's aide. It's a new group of students, so there's no history or background between this student and the authority figures. In fact, since the kids come from a lot of different schools, there's so not much history with the other kids that I know of. The kids are roughly 1/2 white, 1/4 black, 1/4 latino. The teachers/adult volunteers for this particular class group are white or Asian. This particular student ended up sitting in a corner refusing to participate most of the session.

Representation matters. Why aren’t there any volunteers that look like the kids that you serve?

Do you know the definition of the word “volunteers?”

Do you know the definition of the word recruit.

DP but left wing political activism were pretty clear that we aren’t supposed to ask WOC for their unpaid labor. Puts orgs like this in a bind.

*activism movements

[Anonymous]

Kids throw around terms like racist and sexist all the time now. These are serious issues and should not be treated so callously. Not looking forward to what these kids will be like as adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it was me, I’d call her bluff. I’d say no it absolutely is not and by throwing that term around you’re diminishing the very real impact of racism. Then I would remind the student this class is a privilege and she needs to quit derailing it for everyone else. I’d also alert the higher ups.

Wow. This is very bad advice.

Ok, then what do you recommend? By the way I also agree totally ignoring is a good idea.