When a student calls everything "racist"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how exactly did you find out about and apply and recruited for that position?

Does the museum put out ads that the local black community has access to? Are there visible billboards around or recruiting events in community centres in black neighbourhoods?

Lol, billboards? That is not how people recruit volunteers. It’s usually via email blast or posted on their website.

[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.

You’re full of crap to even imply that you ever did. You’re so transparent, it’s embarrassing.

[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?

You know, I’m not OP, and I’m sure outreach could be better, but you have someone trying to educate themselves to do a better job. How about helping them? We have welcome allies.

[Anonymous]

The real problem is something like 80% of teachers are white women. If we are serious about equity we need to fire a lot of them and get proper representation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real problem is something like 80% of teachers are white women. If we are serious about equity we need to fire a lot of them and get proper representation.

I posted earlier.
Go for it.
You need to start recruiting in HS.
Then you need loan forgiveness.
Then you need teacher support.
Let’s see. I’m educated, smart and personable.
Am I going to chose a work place where there are other smart fun young people ? Or one where I don’t have time to go to the bathroom when I need to, I spend my own money on supplies, and outside of a few metro area school districts, I need to take a second job to cover my expenses?
Fire away.

[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.

Agree. This is sure to get you into hot water with the school and her parent.

[Anonymous]

I think OP is talking about a volunteer position at a Museum, And as pp posted it is so easy to get into hot water. If I am going to volunteer and get called a racist for asking for everyone to wear a mask or sit in a seat especially today where everything is taped and edited that you can easily be cancelled it becomes to difficult. Ill still be able to provide this enrichment to my child but the other kids whose parents can't those kids loose out. Yes I would go through training but the example here is asking a child to wear a mask or sit down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real problem is something like 80% of teachers are white women. If we are serious about equity we need to fire a lot of them and get proper representation.

Agree.

It is the only way to honor and implement equity.

[Anonymous]

Whoa. So you’re talking about firing people based on the color of their skin? That’s illegal, sweetheart. Hire more teachers of color, sure, but don’t fire teachers because they are white!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whoa. So you’re talking about firing people based on the color of their skin? That’s illegal, sweetheart. Hire more teachers of color, sure, but don’t fire teachers because they are white!

Firing white people for equity reasons is not illegal.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/indecency-art-institute-of-chicago-docents-diversity-firing-11634310172

[Anonymous]

Ignore the brat. Focus on the kids who want to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real problem is something like 80% of teachers are white women. If we are serious about equity we need to fire a lot of them and get proper representation.

Have you tried hiring for a school? Not a lot of people being turned away from the job.

[Anonymous]

Kids in DD’s school began calling everything racist right after the school began intensely focusing on, and teaching, equity a few years back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how exactly did you find out about and apply and recruited for that position?

Does the museum put out ads that the local black community has access to? Are there visible billboards around or recruiting events in community centres in black neighbourhoods?

Why would OP know that or care? OP is just a volunteer.

I'd ask the child why she thinks asking her to sit in her seat like the rest of the kids is considered racist? Or wear a mask, or anything else that the other kids are doing.

I agree that she has learned to just excuse any bad behavior by using the racism card. It's sad that this is what some people have resorted to to excuse bad behavior.

And I am not against CRT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real problem is something like 80% of teachers are white women. If we are serious about equity we need to fire a lot of them and get proper representation.

The real problem is that not enough black people are going into teaching. Maybe you could encourage more of them to go into teaching.