When a student calls everything "racist"

[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.

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

+1000

It is divisive. It is destructive. It is toxic.

- and there is only one political party pushing the victimhood narrative: the democrats. I just can’t vote for them anymore.

That's a fun argument to make, I bet, but that's not at all what democrats are pushing. I do run into this toxic mentality from time to time, but it's not "because they're democrats" or "victims of democratic thinking." It's because the kids have toxic or mentally ill or paranoid or severely disadvantaged and bitter parents. The one I know the best is also an antivaxer, because...distrust. It's tragic. And I can believe that AND that our society has issues with systemic and pervasive racism. But it is not "because of democrats." Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Teachers see kids with these behaviors quite frequently but all the ways of dealing with it are really predicated on building a relationship and that is tough to do in a limited amount of time as a volunteer. There is probably a whole lot going on for this child and it takes time to unpack. As a teacher I use a combination of one-on-one talks, casual positive comments ( or they seem casual but I am actively finding ways to say nice or friendly things to this student, finding things in common, asking a question about their hobbies, whatever) and cheerfully ignoring/moving forward, when appropriate. Really a big ask for a volunteer so I would do your best to make a positive connection but also give yourself a break if it just doesn’t happen in this limited time frame.

[Anonymous]

So many dramatic people on this thread. In another generation that kid would have been saying “That’s dumb” or “That’s whack” in response to everything. Now they’re saying racist. I don’t think he knows what racist really means, nor is he trying to use it accurately.

[Anonymous]

Correct the kid. Explain what it means and they’ll shut up.

[Anonymous]

A student on my child's bus said this to avoid pulling up his mask over his face. This child is somehow able to get away with not pulling his mask up in the school building too even though it's mandatory and other kids are disciplined.

[Anonymous]

In our current white-dominated society, just about anything is racist if you deconstruct it enough.

Kids not wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our current white-dominated society, just about anything is racist if you deconstruct it enough.

Kids not wrong.

OMG.

[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.

You first ignore them and then if they continue, you ask the adults to deal with their behavior and if it doesn't stop, you ask an adult to remove them from the group. Simple. If they want to sit in a corner and not participate that's on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many dramatic people on this thread. In another generation that kid would have been saying “That’s dumb” or “That’s whack” in response to everything. Now they’re saying racist. I don’t think he knows what racist really means, nor is he trying to use it accurately.

None of that is appropriate and the adults need to speak up and tell the kid to stop behaving poorly. They do it because they get away with it and are seeking attention.

[Anonymous]

I mean if I was a black kid I'd totally walk around telling people they're racist. What else does a teenager live for but to push the buttons of the adults around them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean if I was a black kid I'd totally walk around telling people they're racist. What else does a teenager live for but to push the buttons of the adults around them?

This is completely normal childish behavior. Just ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A student on my child's bus said this to avoid pulling up his mask over his face. This child is somehow able to get away with not pulling his mask up in the school building too even though it's mandatory and other kids are disciplined.

Well, there you have it. Oh, and that's not nearly the same as saying 'That's dumb' or "That's whack" as some posters claim. I think everyone with half a brain would see the difference.

[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.

Notify the parents. Tell them that the student can’t come back if they don’t want to participate

That will 💯 not spark. Why? Because the child has heard that all of these things are racist FROM the parents. They may sue the museum if child is threatened with expulsion from the program. Ask me how I know. - a teacher

[Anonymous]

Work, not spark

[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.

THIS will work. - teacher from above