My son (grade 9 - high school) came home from school and told me he didn't like something a relief teacher did.
He told me this teacher was making fun of some of the student's names while doing the roll call. I said to my son, "maybe this teacher was just joking around and trying to be relatable?".
My son felt very strongly that this wasn't the case as the teacher only did it to a select few students, one who's name you'd describe as unique and the other 3 have traditionally Middle Eastern/Asian names (they are the only non white kids in the class I should mention).
Teacher was making comments like "Mohammed, pfft, who'd name their kid that?" and "Destiny? Really? How embarrassing for you".
(Not these kids real names due to privacy, I just used these ones as a vague example).
From what I understand, none of the students were deeply affected by it but they all thought the teacher was a bit of a dickhead. I do believe some of the students mentioned it to other regular teachers.
I'm wondering whether I should report it as well tho, because to me it's bullying and at least casually racist.
Or do I just let it go considering how badly covid has affected regular staffing and relief teacher availability? Our school has really struggled to stay afloat since resuming in person schooling.
6 Replies
I think you should speak to the principal about your concerns! Bullying is such an issue, joking or not, any form of encouraging bullying from the adults responsible for impressionable kids, needs to be pulled up!
With kids in a school also struggling to keep/gain teachers, I actually wouldn't want to see concern about losing teachers allow a standard of professionalism slip.
I had a teacher in high school who was inappropriate toward me on various levels..its actually fucked me up for life. This is similar to one of the "fun" things she liked to do with new classes she had. Maybe if someone pulled her up more regularly, she wouldn't have got away with so much.
Report it to the principal. In upper primary I had two teachers who worked together to make fun of certain kids (including me - I remember them making horrible jokes at my expense in front of their fave students & all laughing). They coddled their favourites, who also got to do special activities. It killed my self esteem & still affects my ability to trust people. My DM even called them out on it & they laughed (didn't go to principal).
So please go direct to the principal & report it. With the shortage I wouldn't expect the school to get rid of them, but hopefully they'll make the teacher aware they know of their inappropriate actions & stop it. If they don't, go to the department & report it. Sadly, it's probably only the fear of being called a racist school (which is very important too!) that will get action, so ensure you point that out. However, I'm pretty cut throat when it comes to equality because of my own experiences, so my approach might be a bit forceful for some.
I would definitely make an official report in case the other teachers didn't. There's probably a reason they are a relief teacher and not permanent. This is also concerning because it kind of opens the doors for the kids to bully those students, so glad they seem like a mature bunch and knew that it was wrong. You should be proud of your child 👏
Yes report, that’s not ok.
Please speak up to the school, some students cop enough abuse in their home life school is suppose to be a safe place and the adults that teach them are suppose to provide that place for every student these poor children may have shown that they didn’t care but how do you know they aren’t crying in a corner somewhere, this is exactly the type of teacher you do want to loose regardless of the school situation children cop enough ridicule and bullying from their peers a teacher is just absoloutley disgusting and not on said teacher doesn’t deserve to be a teacher!!!
I’m a teacher. I would 100% let the principal know. Especially as it made kids feel uncomfortable