MLK Day education-Teacher not equipped to handle questions on race

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Compassion fatigue? Seriously? I am not looking for your opinion, then. You don't need to participate in this discussion as it is trivial to you and will contribute to your fatigue.

DC was upset--that is real. I am looking for insight on how to address it without having to move. BTW, she is very clear about her heritage and we have discussed race relations, slavery, etc. I have always phrased certain types of treatment as happening in the past. Obviously one comment from a child does not lend to an overall feeling of being different. It builds up over a series of experiences she has had which include seemingly innocuous comments about black people, dark skinned people, black people's physical makeup, etc. I am sorry I summarized this series of experiences into the Elsa comment--I assumed people could read between the lines. Interestingly, those who have been through it could understand this summary statement. When you have to field questions from your child about skin color, race, etc. on a regular basis, it is quite....fatiguing. If it was only just fatiguing, I would be fine. I worry more for her mental health and also for the kids in her class that are growing up with built in biases--that may have a real impact on how they behave as adults. Maybe they will do something "really" racist to catch the attention of the fatigued PP.

The incident in question took place in the class and I felt that the teacher should have reinforced how wrong the treatment was, that MLK moved America forward by showing how bad this treatment is and that the idea that skin color would determine what kind of person you are, where you go to school, etc. is wrong. Show positive examples of different types of people through literature/media. I feel that if you are going into a topic such as this, you should be better prepared to ensure a child does not feel singled out. Glossing over a comment does not help. I appreciate the answers from the teacher who said it is good not focus on it at the moment. However, I would want her to circle back to it.

I saw a comedy recently in which the black comedian relayed his experience of being the only black kid growing up. "In the plays," he said, "I always had to be Martin Luther King and all the slaves." I still find that funny! Anyway, to the pp talking about their experiences regarding charlie's angels or their kids and elsa - Are you arguing that race has nothing to do with it? Because that is so obviously crazy talk. If a black man is telling you that he can't get a cab since none will stop for him, will you relay that that time that you didn't get a cab as equivalent?

[Anonymous]

I think you should tell your school that the teachers need better training in race. Maybe suggest a course like this: http://raceinstitute.org/

[Anonymous]

OP, this is the issue with being of color in this country. White people have the ability to tune out race and race issues and get tired of racism and its historical implications because they are the default. I can't stop being black. I can't stop worrying about my children's hurt, hurt they will receive solely because of their skin color. I can't stop microaggression and I wish I had the privilege to be like, uh no big deal. I really do. It would be awesome to be white sometimes.

You have to work on building your child's self worth in a world where they will be told they are less than. Yes, everyone is told they suck in their own special way, but there isn't hundreds of years of history, violence, and aggression behind being made fun of because of a non-racial attribute.

I'm sorry you are going through this. It is upsetting and the people who don't get it have the privilege of not having to care.

[Anonymous]

Curious as to how the teacher should have handled it. Suggestions? How do you teach about MLK without mentioning racism?

[Anonymous]

The incident in question took place in the class and I felt that the teacher should have reinforced how wrong the treatment was, that MLK moved America forward by showing how bad this treatment is and that the idea that skin color would determine what kind of person you are, where you go to school, etc. is wrong. Show positive examples of different types of people through literature/media. I feel that if you are going into a topic such as this, you should be better prepared to ensure a child does not feel singled out. Glossing over a comment does not help. I appreciate the answers from the teacher who said it is good not focus on it at the moment. However, I would want her to circle back to it.

Isn't this what the teacher was trying to do? I think OP objected because her daughter was singled out. Maybe a little more Black Pride is needed.

[Anonymous]

Wait, so another child said that back when schools were segregated, your child would not have been allowed in class with the rest of them. What exactly do you think the teacher should have said then? It sounds like you are angry that your child was singled out. Do you think the teacher should have punished the other student for singling your child out or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so another child said that back when schools were segregated, your child would not have been allowed in class with the rest of them. What exactly do you think the teacher should have said then? It sounds like you are angry that your child was singled out. Do you think the teacher should have punished the other student for singling your child out or something?

Oh sorry, I see that you did say what you thought she should have done. So "cuckoo" was not strong enough huh.

[Anonymous]

OP, the posters questioning you don't want to question their own privilege. You have a point and you have a valid concern. It's not going to be heard here because to acknowledge racial privilege would undermine the idea that we're all "equal" and that there is nothing that makes them or their children successful beyond intelligence and hard work and a level playing field.

It ain't level. To admit otherwise, would be to admit defeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The incident in question took place in the class and I felt that the teacher should have reinforced how wrong the treatment was, that MLK moved America forward by showing how bad this treatment is and that the idea that skin color would determine what kind of person you are, where you go to school, etc. is wrong. Show positive examples of different types of people through literature/media. I feel that if you are going into a topic such as this, you should be better prepared to ensure a child does not feel singled out. Glossing over a comment does not help. I appreciate the answers from the teacher who said it is good not focus on it at the moment. However, I would want her to circle back to it.

Isn't this what the teacher was trying to do? I think OP objected because her daughter was singled out. Maybe a little more Black Pride is needed.

I believe OP said her child was not Black, but an entirely different minority of a darker hue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so another child said that back when schools were segregated, your child would not have been allowed in class with the rest of them. What exactly do you think the teacher should have said then? It sounds like you are angry that your child was singled out. Do you think the teacher should have punished the other student for singling your child out or something?

Oh sorry, I see that you did say what you thought she should have done. So "cuckoo" was not strong enough huh.

Glad to see you went back to read but your original response is sad. In what world, would a parent seek a revengeful approach to a comment made by a child? Thanks for projecting characteristics on me, though. "Cuckoo" was not elaborate enough.

[Anonymous]

PP, in a world where those jerks are being raised by racists similar to the one's in this thread. We have to defend our children.

[Anonymous]

Aw, I'm sorry your kid gets flak re: Elsa. In my son's K class, the African American, Asian, and White girls all play Elsa regardless of looks. Hope it stays like that in their little worlds for a while longer!

My child's teacher has been emphasizing that we're all special being us, regardless of what we look like. Of course it's simplified for the younger kids, but still. We try to tell him that things weren't always so nice (or aren't nice in all areas of the world), but we need to respect everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like we running out of things to be racist

Disney Character Privilege, next on The View!

(Right after, "white people shower too much", LMAO!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe OP said her child was not Black, but an entirely different minority of a darker hue.

The kid is a Ringwraith?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you may just need to toughen up. I dont see the big deal here.

+1
My son came home and asked what a sand nigger was because some kid were calling him that at school. So what, trashy people everywhere making trashy children.