Boy aged 7 accused of being a racist by his school

[Badnik Mechanic]

This is a story which has actually happened... .. .. oh great... in my hometown, so the story is quite big here right now, chances are it's going to go national if the council/school keeps acting the way it is or if the media keeps hyping it up like it has.

Theres a Primary School in Hull called Griffin Primary School, and for those outside the UK, Primary school kids are usually aged between 5-12(?).

The story is, that a 7 year old asked this question to a 5 year old... "Are you brown because you came from Africa?"

So how did the school go about handling the situation?

They took both the boys out of lessons, called both the parents and told them that their children had been involved in 'a racist incident' the parents arrived and the mother of the boy was told that she had to sign a form which more or less said 'your son is a racist.'

Like... wow.

Originally, it was being reported that it was the mother of the 5 year old who complained about this incicent to the school, now it's come to light she didn't complain and has also said that she didn't believe it to be racist at all.

So whats going on now? Well... the local MP has got involved saying he doesn't believe it to be racism... the local radio stations have had open phone lines all day letting... sigh... the people have their say (although the vast majority which didn't think there was anything racist about it at all). Tonight on Look North they had a representative of race relations on the show and he said he didn't think it was racist and that the school completely failed in how it handled the incident.

The school itself has said "We have to report all racist incidents and have procedures to follow."

So... does anyone else here think that the school might have possibly... could have slightly... over-reacted in the most outrageous sense!? They practically branded a 7 year old child a racist for asking what sounds like an innocent childish question, called both parents into the school and almost forcing his mother to sign a form admitting that he was a racist.

Opinions anyone?

[krazystitch]

They do know the kid who said that is seven, right?

Not only that, but it wasn't even a racist comment. If anything I guess it might have been "stereotypical" or something along those lines, but it's not even the least bit racist. A racist comment would have been something to be taken offense to, not..where you were born. The fact that the school actually went through so much trouble for something like a comment made by a kid who probably doesn't even know the word "racism" is pretty damn sad.

[Your Vest Friend]

While I wouldn't say that his age automatically disqualifies him from being able to be accused of being offensive (kids CAN be that spiteful at that age), that comment wouldn't be what I would consider grounds for accusation. It's just the kid being naive, in this case.

[krazystitch]

While I wouldn't say that his age automatically disqualifies him from being able to be accused of being offensive (kids CAN be that spiteful at that age), that comment wouldn't be what I would consider grounds for accusation. It's just the kid being naive, in this case.

Edited February 20, 2012 by krazystitch

[Diogenes]

They do know the kid who said that is seven, right?

[Your Vest Friend]

No, you're right about that. But, what I'm saying is that he's still young, and a boy of that age asking a question like that, one that's not even "racist", I'm sure he wasn't trying to say anything offensive anyways.

[Badnik Mechanic]

I think we're all under no illusion that even at 7 someone can be racist as well as being a royal little pain in the arse if they wanted to be, however if they fully understand what they're saying or why it's so hurtful is another debate altogether.

But I think if this kid wanted to be racist, he wouldn't have said what he did. To me it sounds like someone with a most basic understanding of cultures trying to find out why that boy is different to him.

Now speaking with some local knowledge here, Griffin is not a rough school at all, it was nothing like what I went to, and believe me, even at 7 if someone wanted to really be cruel then they're more than capable of doing so.

The fact that the school actually went through so much trouble for something like a comment made by a kid who probably doesn't even know the word "racism" is pretty damn sad

According to one of the articles I linked to, he doesn't.

Edited February 20, 2012 by Hogfather

[krazystitch]

You didn't quote the part where I heavily implied that I didn't consider it racist, or even offensive.

I quoted the part that I was replying to, which is considering his age.

[Commissar Hurricane]

Taking things this far was an overreaction.

The question itself seems naive and curious rather then offensive.

[Your Vest Friend]

I quoted the part that I was replying to, which is considering his age.

But the part you didn't quote agreed with what you 'argued'. He could have been racist at his age, but that particular comment was not an example of racism, so this shouldn't have happened.

[krazystitch]

But the part you didn't quote agreed with what you 'argued'. He could have been racist at his age, but that particular comment was not an example of racism, so this shouldn't have happened.

Alright then, I apologize for making it seem like I was going up against what you said or anything like that, I'll edit the post now.

[Indigo Rush]

Between the witch burning in Nepal, the execution of a Christian pastor in the Middle East and this, I'm really losing my faith in the good of humanity.

Good grief, someone make a topic about kittens or something.

[Badnik Mechanic]

I'm just wondering... had the mother signed the form. What exactly happens next? Does the son get taken out of school? Is he forever known as '***** the racist'?

What exactly was that supposed to do?

Good grief, someone make a topic about kittens or something.

Yeah sure, just wait a moment I'll cook something up.

[Johnny Boy]

Wow, I'm black myself and I didn't find anything racist about that question. I mean for christs sake the kid was 7 years old!

[Stacy]

Excuse my French, but how the fuck is that racist? He asked the other young boy a logical yet naive question.

Like Hunico said the boy is just curious and said it in the naivest way possible, because you know he is seven!

Edited February 20, 2012 by BW199148

[Commissar Hurricane]

Well now that I think about a bit, should not the sensible thing to do was simply explain how skin color works to 7 year old in a way someone his age could understand?

instead they got extremely serious about it.

Edited February 20, 2012 by Hunico

[CrownSlayers Shadow]

Um...disproportionate much?

They couldn't tell him that saying that was offensive and he shouldn't do it again? Unless he has a history of this, they're carrying it too far for a comment like that. He should recieve a warning before they decide to take action like that.

This only goes to show how oversensitive people are being. I bet it has something to do with that racist woman on the tram that caused people to be more concerned towards any perceived racism.

[DarkLight]

I'm kind of curious of what the other kid's reaction was.

[PeanutButterDimond]

When I was seven, I once asked a friend of my dad's "Where can I get that dark skin" because all the mosquitos were bothering me and not him. Was I racist? No. Was I naive? yes.

honestly, they're kids and one asked a naive question. They're little kids, they're just curious about the world and naive. Not racist.

[Dr. Mechano]

I hate when things like this happen, because it gives actual racists ammo to use. They look at a story like this and generalize, positing that every complaint of racism must be equally frivolous. No doubt, genuine bigots love it when childish naivete or innocent queries are quickly branded as racism, because they can point at us and go "Aha, see? You politically correct types accuse everything of being racism, so our comments are just as valid as this child's are!"

I'm all for calling out racism where I see it, but this simply doesn't qualify. It dilutes the definition of racism so much that it's only going to make it more difficult for us to condemn actual racism when it occurs.

[Nitwit_Speed]

My question is why would they brand him as a racist? If everyone and his brother seems to be able to tell that it's just a child's naivete, why are they pursuing?

[Commissar Hurricane]

I'm kind of curious of what the other kid's reaction was.

Well do little kids these days till believe in the stork?

If yes perhaps he asked if the Stork brought him from Africa instead of Paris.

Though seriously, in the second article linked it does say the boy was upset about the question.

[pooshoes]

INB4 Political Correctness Gone Mad.

To me, this is a complete non-story, almost as much as that women wot put a cat in a wheely bin. The only thing it shows is that the people working at that school are complete fucking numpties, clearly incapable of any sort of rational thought.

Idiots doing idiot things. Big fucking whoop.

[Pixel Brain]

Jeez, the kid was SEVEN. Of course he didn't mean any harm, he was just asking an innocent question. Sounds to me like the school needs to realize that.

[Old dead account]

Sometimes I wonder if they do this because they're honestly that atupid or if they just want media attention...