Racially Insensitive Teacher?

[Anonymous]

My son’s kindergarten teacher taught a lesson on segregation a few weeks ago where she built a bus and had the children sit in the order of their skin complexion to demonstrate segregation. The only reason I knew this is she posted a picture online for parents in the classroom to see. When I first saw the picture it did not sit right with me. I talked to my son about it and explained yes as an African American there was a time where he would sit in the back but things have changed. Most recently my son has brought it back up and on a few occasions with extended family has said where they would sit on the bus based on their skin complexion. This really bothers me and I am thinking of talking to the principal. Thoughts? Am I making too much of a big deal?

[Anonymous]

Get over it. Stop looking for racism where there is none.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would find that unnecessarily personal and disturbing for children.

[Anonymous]

I think the teacher meant well, was trying to come from a good place. I think it falls under the category of poor judgment because the kids are young. I remember when my child's K teacher read a story to the class about the civil rights movement and talked to the kids about the police using dogs attack black people. My child was very disturbed by this image and I believed that the teacher should have chosen a book that was age appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get over it. Stop looking for racism where there is none.

Lol! There’s no racism in segregation based on skin color? This is like those schools that teach about slavery by having pretend auctions of real black students. Not ok. Dumb, lazy, and insensitive teacher.

[Anonymous]

Totally racially insensitive. My daughter had a teacher like this. She didn’t mean to hurt feelings but she just was so thoughtless & insensitive. Sometimes you wonder, how can a teacher be like this? But, alas, they come with their own bagggage and deficits and aren’t always thoughtful.

[Anonymous]

My AA dd had a similar experience in K. They acted out a scene in which she and a couple of other black girls were cast as Rosa Parks, (they acted the scene several times so all kids could participate). I recall her just being confused. For a year or so after she kept saying that Americans couldn’t ride the bus. I don’t think she knew the term AA and just caught onto the ‘American’ part and never really understood the whole thng.

[Anonymous]

Totally insensitive. This reminds me of this - story about field trip to pick cotton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PToqVW4n86U

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My AA dd had a similar experience in K. They acted out a scene in which she and a couple of other black girls were cast as Rosa Parks, (they acted the scene several times so all kids could participate). I recall her just being confused. For a year or so after she kept saying that Americans couldn’t ride the bus. I don’t think she knew the term AA and just caught onto the ‘American’ part and never really understood the whole thng.

This is beyond awful. What year are we in? What school is this? Did you report? Or better yet had a non-AA parent friend report? What is wrong with people?

I'm glad your daughter didn't catch on! I managed to turn 16 before ever realizing sexism was a thing and I think it's one of the reasons I grew up confident and self assured.

[Anonymous]

Teacher is definetely insensitive, these kids are too young for this type of lesson. Not to mention it is inaccurate as well. Sad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My AA dd had a similar experience in K. They acted out a scene in which she and a couple of other black girls were cast as Rosa Parks, (they acted the scene several times so all kids could participate). I recall her just being confused. For a year or so after she kept saying that Americans couldn’t ride the bus. I don’t think she knew the term AA and just caught onto the ‘American’ part and never really understood the whole thng.

This is beyond awful. What year are we in? What school is this? Did you report? Or better yet had a non-AA parent friend report? What is wrong with people?

I'm glad your daughter didn't catch on! I managed to turn 16 before ever realizing sexism was a thing and I think it's one of the reasons I grew up confident and self assured.

It's pretty insensitive and tone deaf of you to think that POC could even have a chance at growing up in today's world without realizing racism "is a thing." It's not at all comparable to sexism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son’s kindergarten teacher taught a lesson on segregation a few weeks ago where she built a bus and had the children sit in the order of their skin complexion to demonstrate segregation. The only reason I knew this is she posted a picture online for parents in the classroom to see. When I first saw the picture it did not sit right with me. I talked to my son about it and explained yes as an African American there was a time where he would sit in the back but things have changed. Most recently my son has brought it back up and on a few occasions with extended family has said where they would sit on the bus based on their skin complexion. This really bothers me and I am thinking of talking to the principal. Thoughts? Am I making too much of a big deal?

You are NOT overreacting. I would have called the principal. Kindergarten is not appropriate for such a lesson. She could easily have done such a lesson using Woodson's The Other Side. Can you get him out of the class? She basically just taught your child that he belongs at the back of the bus and that is NOT okay.

[Anonymous]

this is so disturbing. And ultimately she’s taught your child about shade-ism since he’s now looking at other people to see where they would sit on the bus. I would certainly contact the teacher and/or the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son’s kindergarten teacher taught a lesson on segregation a few weeks ago where she built a bus and had the children sit in the order of their skin complexion to demonstrate segregation. The only reason I knew this is she posted a picture online for parents in the classroom to see. When I first saw the picture it did not sit right with me. I talked to my son about it and explained yes as an African American there was a time where he would sit in the back but things have changed. Most recently my son has brought it back up and on a few occasions with extended family has said where they would sit on the bus based on their skin complexion. This really bothers me and I am thinking of talking to the principal. Thoughts? Am I making too much of a big deal?

This is awful, OP. I’d complain. I’m white. And white people often do things that are well-intentioned but they just cannot see it from another person’s perspective. This is not the way to teach a lesson to such young kids. Especially kids of color. She needs to get a clue.

[Anonymous]

9:59 again. There is a documentary out now called America To Me about a Chicago suburban school very similar to many in Montgomery County. They struggle with race all the time, and it’s a striking examination of racial disparities in school.

Everyone should watch it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/arts/television/america-to-me-review.html