A GLASGOW high school pupil has described how she had to leave a classroom after her teacher used the N- word in class.
The Drumchapel High student said despite the other children in the class telling the teacher they did not want to hear the racial slur she proceeded to say it out loud in an English lesson.
The incident came to light as teenagers from the school attended a council meeting yesterday to discuss their anti-racism work at the secondary.
Explaining more about the situation when asked by a councillor, the student said that during S3 her English teacher used the word while reading a book.
The student said: “The one thing that made me uncomfortable was that I’m the only coloured person in my class. The teacher said: ‘can I say this N-word’? and everyone in the class said ‘no.’ Suddenly she is reading the book and she said the N-word looking at me.”
Describing being upset, the pupil added: “I stood up and said: ‘excuse me teacher but I can’t accept that’ and I left the classroom.”
She described talking to a depute headteacher about the incident but believes no action was taken.
Pointing out how she has heard of additional pupils experiencing other incidents, she said: “I can’t allow teachers to disrespect a coloured person inside the class.”
She added: “A student who is facing racism will never forget. We want our voice to be heard.”
Councillor Graham Campbell, SNP, said: “I want to assure you that your voice is certainly heard today.
“We find that unacceptable. That should not have happened to you and should not be happening to students.”
The education, skills and early years city policy committee chair added: “Apologies from us that you had that experience and we will do our best to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
He said there are books that can illustrate the history of racism without using that terminology.
The pupil also told the council’s education, skills and early years city policy committee that during her time at the school she has only had two black teachers.
She and fellow students from the school’s anti-racism club explained their ongoing efforts to boost equality.
The anti-racism club have been involved in delivering workshops, designing a poster and holding a culture day among other activities.
The council is running an education programme to ensure the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME )workforce is supported and encouraged to attain senior posts in schools.
A BAME Principal Teacher programme is being delivered with five participants. There are currently four black depute head teachers in the city according to a council report.
Other work to boost equality in schools includes LGBT inclusive education activities and a plan to include more information about Atlantic slavery in the curriculum.
