Irish times article

happywithlife

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/teachers-racism-towards-traveller-pupils-must-be-addressed-1.3658921?mode=amp

Will more than likely be shot down for admitting this ...but here goes anyway

That was infuriating to read for several reasons
1. typical inflammatory headline when it comes to teachers
2. the brief article did not give any actual instance of said "teacher racism"
3. It was infered teacher racism is to blame for low literacy & numeracy levels amongst traveller students - NO reference to the high absenteeism rate amongst this cohert nor the fact that many (note I did not say all) parents still do not value education which is a proven influence on educational attainment/achievement.
4. After a week where I've had the discrimination card bandied about because I dare to expect ALL students - regardless of cultural background traveller or otherwise - to adhere to the same classroom rules as everyone else. I've had a very good exam class disrupted three times already this term because of extremely disruptive behaviour from a student. They happen to be a traveller. That is not my issue. Their disruptive behaviour is. It makes an article like this difficult to swallow.

I'm not denying they have it tougher at times but in my experience that's due MORE to family issues than teacher issues. We have a good broad mix of backgrounds in our school. Where the parents view education as important and support the school - working with the teachers, being actively involved, attending p/t meetings etc - those students generally achieve good grades, progress on to further education much the same as the non-traveller students etc etc Those whose parents don't engage generally resist the educational system & consequently don't achieve as well. They all have the same teachers.

Are we as teachers traveller racist? Are we completly oblivious to their culture? difficulties / experiences in school? How should/could such racist ideologies amongst teachers be addressed?

Icsics

I think we are racist, we treat them differently. In my experience they break more school rules than they follow, they get away with behaviour that wouldn't be tolerated in a non traveller. They are cajoled & treated with kid gloves & when they run into serious trouble they play the traveller card. And the parents are as bad.

RealJohn

I used to know a traveler mentioned in relation to that story, and that person’s immediate family. They were an excellent example of every negative traveler ‘stereotype’ you can think of - stealing, harassment, public order issues, etc. etc.
I’m not going to claim that all travelers are like that - I’m sure that many aren’t - but that person should be spending more time making reparations to the many, many people damaged by that family and less time moaning that they’re being unfairly treated.

Like has already been pointed out, far more of the low attainment of travelers in the education system is due to traveler ‘culture’ itself, not due to any failing of teachers or of the system.

Liberal_irony

Typical of the journalism done on education these days. Based on hearsay and a selective version of the facts.