@Muna_Abdi_Phd 1/ Forgive me @Muna_Abdi_Phd I want to add a similar story to add to what you are saying about this book.
5 years ago, I taught in a inner city school where I was covering an English teacher on maternity leave.
There a year 11 child called Mohammad who was quite a sweet child
5 years ago, I taught in a inner city school where I was covering an English teacher on maternity leave.
There a year 11 child called Mohammad who was quite a sweet child
@Muna_Abdi_Phd 2/ he did prat about occasionally but he wasn’t trouble. A good kid. His younger brother was in Year 9 & he was studying OMAM.
His brother was quite dark-skinned & was one of the only BAME students in the class.
His teacher came to the Crooks section of the book...
His brother was quite dark-skinned & was one of the only BAME students in the class.
His teacher came to the Crooks section of the book...
@Muna_Abdi_Phd 3/ & used the N word. The Year 9 boy was embarrassed but said nothing. Then, as the story went, one of the other non-BAME children said to this Year 9 boy, “let’s call him Crooks” & they were taunting him in class.
The boy ran out in tears & at break called Mohammad & told him
The boy ran out in tears & at break called Mohammad & told him
@Muna_Abdi_Phd 4/ what happened. Mohammad was concerned & approaches the teacher telling her what happened.
Apparently the teacher was dismissive & said that it was normal & she ‘taught the class many times without an issue.’
Mo told the teacher if she could please not use that word,
Apparently the teacher was dismissive & said that it was normal & she ‘taught the class many times without an issue.’
Mo told the teacher if she could please not use that word,
@Muna_Abdi_Phd 5/ The teacher took umbrage that Mo would question her & called for Patrol as she felt threatened.
2 members of staff approached him & it became a flashpoint.
I was in the English office when I heard screaming & shouting down the hall.
Mo had lost it & was kicking the door.
2 members of staff approached him & it became a flashpoint.
I was in the English office when I heard screaming & shouting down the hall.
Mo had lost it & was kicking the door.
@Muna_Abdi_Phd 6/ I’m not sure what the other staff said to him but he was very upset.
I spoke to him to calm him down & was tasked to take him to the SLT on duty.
When I spoke to him he said words that I will never forget.
He said “I understand why I get called Nigger in the street,...
I spoke to him to calm him down & was tasked to take him to the SLT on duty.
When I spoke to him he said words that I will never forget.
He said “I understand why I get called Nigger in the street,...
@Muna_Abdi_Phd 7/ But me or my brother shouldn’t hear it in the school. Why doesn’t anyone like us?”
It makes me emotional even talking about it now.
Representation matters.
If books like this & teachers do not handle it correctly, this can cause immeasurable damage to the self esteem of
It makes me emotional even talking about it now.
Representation matters.
If books like this & teachers do not handle it correctly, this can cause immeasurable damage to the self esteem of
@Muna_Abdi_Phd 8/ these young people.
To some people it’s just a word, but for PoC, this word represents everything wrong with the system.
Apologies again @Muna_Abdi_Phd - this is a subject close to my heart & your story touched me.
Fin
To some people it’s just a word, but for PoC, this word represents everything wrong with the system.
Apologies again @Muna_Abdi_Phd - this is a subject close to my heart & your story touched me.
Fin
@Muna_Abdi_Phd One last thing...
That same boy was taken to the Head & given a hour & half detention for ‘aggressive’ behaviour.
He eventually got it overturned with the help of his parents.
What message is it sending out to this young man? This book is too contentious.
That same boy was taken to the Head & given a hour & half detention for ‘aggressive’ behaviour.
He eventually got it overturned with the help of his parents.
What message is it sending out to this young man? This book is too contentious.
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