msolga wrote:I've taught in quite a few schools with largish Muslim student populations. At first it used to bother me when a student (usually a naughty boy caught in the act of doing something he shouldn't have been doing.
) would say something like: "You're picking on mr because I'm a Muslim." Being what I believed to be a squeaky clean "small l" liberal I felt quite confused, offended even, by such remarks. Or I was at first. After a while it became clear that this sort of comment was just a standard power play tactic with a number of the students. They knew out vulnerable spots & targeted them very well!
Aw, gee, msOlga, that kind of playing of the race card is so old it's laughable to me. As a teacher, I get this from time to time and it does no more than amuse me. A kid'll say, "Are you picking on me 'cause I'm black?" I'll answer: "No, it's because you're ugly. Can't stand ugly people." Usually, it sinks in quickly that I'm not serious and am saying something absurd because his own statement was so absurd. Most kids catch on to sarcasm quickly. Or, you can say, "Oh, yes, I'm a racist," because they know full well that you would never admit it if, in fact, you were racist. Quick and immediate confrontation is the key.
