Discrimation?

LegacyUser

was in my FAS course there 2 weeks ago and was practising my typing when the tutor passed me and says "God gave you two hands for a reason" loudly.



I have no use at all in my right arm so obviously i wasnt using it, and the tutor was made known to this on the first day of the course....



She was a vindictive and undermining person anyway before the comment was made, so i wouldnt really put it past her to say something like that.



is this discrimination/slander?

Jane Eyre

Isn't it possible she just forgot? Either way, what she said was neither discriminatory or libellous (you can look up a dictionary). It might have been bitchy, but unfortunately there's no law against that.

abitfunny wrote: »

was in my FAS course there 2 weeks ago and was practising my typing when the tutor passed me and says "God gave you two hands for a reason" loudly.



I have no use at all in my right arm so obviously i wasnt using it, and the tutor was made known to this on the first day of the course....



She was a vindictive and undermining person anyway before the comment was made, so i wouldnt really put it past her to say something like that.



is this discrimination/slander?

MitchKoobski

No she wasn't discriminate or libellous. She was being a bitch if she meant it vindictively, but with multiple courses being run it's entirely plausible she simply forgot and made a bad mistake.

LegacyUser

thanks for replies...

I was just curious as people on the course cameup to me and said that it was a form of bullying/discrimination....

thanks again

Truley

Yeah my first thought was that she must have just forgot and didn't realize what she was saying...

mikemac

She probably works in multiple courses at the same time and has lots of people to tutor.
She probably doesn't even know the name of everyone in the class

So most likely forgot, leave it be for now

But not a second time

!!!

Why are people being so laid back? This is horrific that a tutor would say this to any student in the first place. You're an adult, and she's saying "God gave you two hands for a reason"..! I'm sorry this happened to you, don't let it get you down. I would probably bring it up with her! And as for the forgetting thing; she is a professional and was informed about it, she should not forget.

silverharp

I cant see anything wrong with what the tutor said, any tutor or coach will have their stock phrases. The presumption would have to be that the tutor forgot or wasnt even aware that one of the students had a disability.
Simple advice to OP is to explain to the tutor your situation in the next class.

Boskowski

Adult or not it's a teacher pupil situation and if I saw someone doing something stupid-looking for apparently no reason I wouldn't put my advice in cotton wool either. I think it's a perfectly ok comment under normal circumstances just like a lot of other ways she could have commented on it.

She forgot and would be absolutely mortified and truly sorry if reminded. Garanteed.

I am a friend

abitfunny wrote: »

thanks for replies...

I was just curious as people on the course cameup to me and said that it was a form of bullying/discrimination....

thanks again

It's neither but you might want to bring her aside and remind her that you told her about your arm and you would appreciate if she were more sensitive in future.

Liam Byrne

I am a friend wrote: »

It's neither but you might want to bring her aside and remind her that you told her about your arm and you would appreciate if she were more sensitive in future.

+1, including the advice re reminding her.

When I read the thread I was expecting your complaint to be that you were atheist and that her mention of God insulted you.

Simple oversight combined with stock phrasing = unfortunate and embarrassing cock-up, but neither discriminatory nor bullying, since both of those require a level of intent.

I find it interesting that you didn't comment until other people started ****-stirring/"advising" you, so the best advice is to choose who you listen to carefully and don't become part of the "I wanna sue, let's find a reason to be shocked" mob culture

LegacyUser

I did approach her after the class and said it to her and how she made me feel awkward, she didnt apologise, look mortified you could say, and never said anything such as " it slipped my mind" "i forgot", instead she proceeded to tell me what services are on offer for people like me. After that day i got the feeling I was being undermined by her and she kept contradicting me(class members approched me about her attitude towards me as they noticed it).

The course finished Friday and we have to come back in 3 weeks to do an evaulation of her and someone from FAS will also be there, I have decided to say it to them.

We were the only course she was tutoring during that period, and it wasnt a long course, maybe she forgot yes, but she hadnt the grace to apologise... thats wats getting to me.

LegacyUser

sunflower27 wrote: »

The teacher sounds like a total biatch. She needs to get the hell over herself.

I would not have been able to hold my tongue if she had said that to me. I'd have told her that her memory is short and that I cannot use the other hand.

Sounds like she is on some pathetic little power trip. You really have to pity people like that. I have met a few people like this in my time and they were all very unhappy, miserable souls.

I'd say it to her, but I'd have someone with you when you do

You hit the nail on the head there

I didnt like her before what happened, i like her even less now...

but yes, i am reporting it, whatever the outcome is not going to affect me directly but maybe she'l get a bit of cop on for her next class...

Taltos

OP - if you are reporting her - then suggest that you don't wait until the evaluation... Otherwise there is a risk it will be seen as sour grapes...

Folk like her sicken me - if she is not enjoying the job she is doing or at least cannot show her students the respect they deserve she should get the hell out and let someone else take the position.

Emme

OP, wait until the evaluation to say something about her. There is no point in talking directly to people like this, anything they don't agree with goes over their heads.

Unfortunately there are too many petty people in positions like this who remain there, especially if they're employed in government funded organisations. I have a feeling this person won't be moved no matter what you say. There's still no harm in reporting her for your own sake. If you can get the class behind you better still.

razzler

Hi OP
Even if you had the use of both arms she still should not have made that comment, out loud so everyone could hear (designed to embarrass). If someone chooses to type with one hand, as I often do with the other one under my chin, that's their business. (I fly along with just my right index finger, what would she say to that.)
But if a bad attitude towards you in class has been noticed by others and continues even after you spoke to her then maybe someone above her needs to have a word with her. I would bring it up at the evaluation, that's what it's for.

LegacyUser

Liam Byrne wrote: »

+1, including the advice re reminding her.

When I read the thread I was expecting your complaint to be that you were atheist and that her mention of God insulted you.

Simple oversight combined with stock phrasing = unfortunate and embarrassing cock-up, but neither discriminatory nor bullying, since both of those require a level of intent.

I find it interesting that you didn't comment until other people started ****-stirring/"advising" you, so the best advice is to choose who you listen to carefully and don't become part of the "I wanna sue, let's find a reason to be shocked" mob culture

I dont wanna sue her, thats not my plan. I jus want her to stop her from saying something to someone a bit more vulnerable then me.

As i already said I approached her myself after the class, but the more I think about it the more its getting to me

poozers

OP dont report her before the evaluation...then she'll be prepared and be as nice as pie to the person from FAS and to you!! also, because you have already approached her about it and she wasnt very receptive, it wont be as if it came out of no where from you, or come across as sour grapes! you tried to reason with her, she didnt take the chance - her own fault!!wait until your in your evaluation! people like her can always talk their way out of things like this if they're prepared!!! she sounds like a bitter cow and if she's not respecting her students, then shes not doing her job! you're an adult trying to further your career...not a little kid misbehaving in 3rd class!!! I've had a similar experience to you, and didn't speak up about it to someone above my manager...and have been regretting it ever since!!

LegacyUser

And she is called 'teacher'?