Virginia
Related: About this forumVa. Mom: Says White Students Told Her Asian American Son To Sit At 'Segregated Table,' Alex.
- 'Virginia mom says white students told her Asian American son to sit at 'segregated' table,' NBC News4 Washington, May 29, 2024. - The students mom says a group of white students allegedly told her fifth-grade son, who is half Asian, that he couldnt sit with them.
-------
An after-school game took a troubling turn last Tuesday at Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy in Alexandria. Mom Kathryn Kelley says a group of white students allegedly told her fifth-grade son, who is half Asian, that he couldnt sit with them. [They were] saying that mixed race kids had to sit at a table that was away from the white kids, and then African American and Black kids had to sit even further, Kelley told News4.
They said that they were segregated and that they couldnt play with the white kids. Kelley says some students also allegedly teased the students of color, based on race and class. It was of course very difficult, it was confusing. He was trying to understand what was going on while also trying to stand up for his friends and trying to interrupt the situation, but not really knowing what to do, Kelley said.
News4 obtained a letter sent by the schools principal to parents last Friday, acknowledging an inappropriate game that caused some students to feel uncomfortable, as part of a role play of a social studies lesson. The letter said, Students often want to discuss troubling topics from class in a variety of ways, some of which may cause offense. This is certainly a challenge in educating our students and one that we must be keenly aware of when difficult topics are presented.
Kelley feels there are steps that should have been taken. When kids are learning these things, like about segregation, learning about the history of white supremacy in the U.S. -- they have to learn that, they need to learn that, but its not a game, and they need to learn the seriousness of these things....
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/virginia-mom-says-white-students-told-asian-american-son-sit-segregate-rcna154525
stopdiggin
(12,944 posts)(but that might just be lack of understanding here)
But I'll also go out on a limb and say that 4th and 5th graders - will utilize almost any opportunity to act like jerks. And that sounds like exactly what was gong on here.
(and are we sure this momma's boy 'didn't understand' what was going on .. ? 'cause any half-bright 5th grader knows that he's being spoofed and wound up here.)
appalachiablue
(42,995 posts)put down. He should have known what was going on, not bright? So blame the student, I don't think so. Attempts to minimize the offensive behavior as trivial, fail.
The staff should have been on top of this sensitive topic from the beginning and anticipated possible negative issues provoked by the role play lesson they conducted. The resulting behavior was unfortunate and could have been avoided or blunted if the school had been alert and doing their job. Full stop.
Deuxcents
(19,964 posts)Kids will be kids, for sure but to isolate other kids is not what comes naturally.
appalachiablue
(42,995 posts)IronLionZion
(47,049 posts)so the students are pretty diverse. The ones in this news story are idiots. It's best to teach these kids right from wrong when they're young so they don't end up demanding an orange people only table when they're in their 70s.
Student Body Demographics
Enrollment: 440
American Indian or Alaska Native: 0%
Asian: 3%
Black or African American: 35%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 0%
White: 52%
Hispanic: 10%
Multi-racial: 0%