Anyone ever encounter racist remarks among the students?

A student of mine told me that another student has been continuously making racial comments to her. The student she was referring to is what you might label a "bad" kid... Someone who seems to WANT to get under people's skin .. you all know the type...

I spoke to him today and gave him a stern warning.. and even called the parent- who by the way denies her kid would ever say such a thing!

This isn't the first issue I had with him w/ saying things about people who are different. He used to make fun of a very overweight student who is no longer in the class. He would announce to the class how he hated that kid because he was "so fat". I have had enough.

Just a vent..... And yes, we have had several speeches about tolerance in my room. He seems to be the only kid who stirs up this kind of drama.

Re: Anyone ever encounter racist remarks among the students?

Kind of. I have in one of my rr classes 3 kids. 2 are of one race the other is a different race. The 2 of the same race accuse the other all the time of being racist. I've even heard them accusing him of turning the most innocent comments into racist comments-when that is clearly not what he was doing. I had to speak to them about it, needless to say it didn't stop them

Re: Anyone ever encounter racist remarks among the students?

Are they dumb comments or truly cruel? Ignorance is fixable.

I once had a student that drew a swastika on his arm in orange highlighter. (The student was half black, half Polish, so I was a little ) I called his house to let his family know what I'd seen. I also gave the student an assignment: look up the Nazi movement and Poland, and also research what it meant to be biracial in WW2 Germany.

Never saw it again.

Message edited 3/28/2010 9:27:23 PM.

Re: Anyone ever encounter racist remarks among the students?

All. the. time.

As a guidance counselor--(Rachel I know you agree )--it is upsetting but such a teachable moment. In my experience it has typically been a case of ignorance--not knowing WHAT they were talking about..I savor talking, teaching, witnessing them discovering....

In a classroom I know it is another beast altogether.

When I first started I was shocked at the race comments. I think the frequency surprised me, I do not remember it as a student not sure why

I try my best to make it a moment of clarity for the students.

Re: Anyone ever encounter racist remarks among the students?

I really think it's the kids testing their boundaries more than expressing actual fear / hatred of other groups. Like how when they hit 12 or 13, every other word out of their mouth is F-- this and Assh--- that. They think it makes them sound older, more aloof, more "I don't give a sh!t what anyone thinks about me."

They're waiting to be told that it's wrong. They're kids; they crave discipline and need adults to guide them. So I do. Firmly. I tell them that I personally find it offensive even if the comment wasn't directed at me.

Only once can I remember a true instance of hatred. When I taught English in Brooklyn, we were reading "Night" by Elie Weisel and talking about how the Nazis persecuted other groups. The kids were all upset by it until I mentioned how the Nazis persecuted homosexuals. One girl raised her hand and said, "well them, they deserved it." She went on to say horrible things - you can imagine what. She ended by saying that it was wrong to kill Jews or the handicapped because they couldn't help who they were, but that there should be people like the Nazis around today to take care of the gays. I was so stunned, I couldn't even respond. I was just in shock, and hurt, and too upset for words. I can't even remember what I said to the class, but to this day I am embarrassed and sad that I did not take more action, or make that a "teachable moment."

Re: Anyone ever encounter racist remarks among the students?

This must be stressful, thankfully I don't deal with this b/c my kids are too young. Unfortunately he probably hears this kind of talk at home.