Hate speech can be present in schools; it could come from the students, but sadly, it can also come from the teachers and SMT. When coming across hate speech we can do two things: walk away as if we did not hear anything or else address it there and then. Many times we do not encounter it directly in class or at school, but our students are exposed to hate speech, maybe at home or elsewhere, and definitely online.
There are various steps that need to be taken.
1. Explore your feelings: (10 minutes)
Scenario: Christian student offers bacos to Muslim student, who takes one. As soon as she puts it in her mouth she realises it’s with bacon, spits it in her hand and goes to throw it in the bin. She apologises to the teacher who tells her, “You don’t mind cutting off people’s heads, but then you refuse to eat pork!”
As a spectator, how do you feel? Do you feel sad, helpless, angry, excited? Whatever that feeling is, measure it on a scale of one to ten, where ten is overwhelming and one is not intense at all. By assigning a number, you are creating an awareness, judging what’s going on, and more accurately determining what feelings you are having.
2. Practice:
Very often things happen fast and we barely have time to think before we address the students who have engaged in hate speech. Ask yourself these questions: What am I prepared to say? What am I prepared to do? How do I connect it to the pedagogy? If I am teaching history, for example, how is this connected? How do I make this a moment not just for now?
While you are practicing, think of the scenarios where you need to obtain outside help. An educator can’t shrink away from an immediate threat to a student, but he or she doesn’t have to act alone in restoring a sense of justice and order to a school community. Who else would be a resource, either inside your school or from the greater community?
Choose ONE case study from handout that is found in the resource folder. Write your plan and any thoughts on the padlet. Link: 4x4wezxjiyn4g2s4.
Conclusion: Watch the video The authority of hate speech by Rae Langton
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