A mother of a student from Singleton High School is disappointed after the school did not suspend the teacher who made racist rants.
Last Tuesday, a classroom full of high school students heard their teacher give out racist comments. The teacher-directed comments to Indigenous Australians.
According to Mary Franks, her 14-year-old daughter was displeased with what their teacher said. Along with Franks' daughter were three other children who are all indigenous.
When Franks' daughter tried to approach the teacher about the racist comments, the teacher replied. She said that the student was "too white" to be Indigenous.
What was the racist comment?
According to Ms. Franks, the class discussed something during a cooking class. During the discussion, the teacher decided to elaborate on diversity. While talking about diversity, Ms. Franks said that the teacher chose to bash the Aboriginals.
Allegedly, the teacher said that the Indigenous Australians were taking money from the government. The teacher also said they are living in state housing.
In an article published by the Singleton Argus, Ms. Franks said, "At the time, the teacher then went onto speak about Aboriginal people, describing them as dole bludgers and criminals."
The teacher even went on saying that the best thing that happened to the Aboriginal was the European colonization of Australia.
The four Indigenous students left the classroom. That is after feeling upset by the teacher's remarks.
Before leaving the classroom, Mary's daughter tried to correct the teacher on her racist rants. That is when Ms. Franks' daughter got the reply of being too white.
The school's actions about the incident
On Wednesday, Mary Franks went to Singleton High School to report the incident.
The Department of Education confirmed that the authorities received reports regarding the teacher's racist comments during a class.
The school's Anti-Racism Contact Officer is checking on the incident. The parents already met with school authorities and the teacher who made the racist comments.
A spokesperson of the Department of Education said that help is now given to students because of what transpired. The teacher also atoned for what happened.
The Department said they do not condone any form of racism and are reviewing the incident.
The Mother's Disappointment
Even with the teacher's regret, Ms. Franks thinks that the teacher should be suspended from teaching. According to Franks, "That's their response. They're protecting the teacher, and my daughter just has to sit back in the corner and shut her mouth basically."
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The school said that Franks' daughter no longer needs to attend the class until the end of the term. That is after filing the reports about the racist comments.
Franks feels that it is ironic how a teacher who is deemed to protect the students, is the same person who makes her daughter feel unsafe.
Aside from Ms. Franks' call for the teacher to be suspended, other people online are also calling for the suspension of the teacher.
