Zero tolerance targets racism
A ZERO tolerance policy, which left a Paddock Wood school with the highest number of reported racist incidents in Kent, is also the reason for a dramatic drop in such cases, according its headteacher.
Mascalls School on Maidstone Road recorded 31 racist incidents in 2006/07, the highest in Kent, the next highest was Minister College with 18 incidents.
However, since then, head Vanessa Everett said there had only been seven incidents reported. She said: "We have a firm stance on this but we've only had seven reported in the last year and I hope it is because the children are understanding what they can and can't say.
"I have confidence we are reporting it correctly and the improvement has been down to the zero tolerance policy."
Mrs Everett pointed to a recent Ofsted report which stated: "The school is inclusive. For example, students from a community including Gypsy/ Roma and Travellers of Irish heritage are happily settled in the school. One student summed it up when he said, 'I enjoy coming to school because I feel I belong'."
Representatives from the school have appeared on radio shows in the last week after a Freedom of Information Request highlighted Mascalls as the school with the most reported incidents in Kent.
It was also reported two teachers were disciplined for using the word "pikey" and one of them left the school as a result.
Mrs Everett explained the reason their numbers were higher than elsewhere is "because we have a zero tolerance response and report anything whether it is direct or not.
"For example one of our children said 'all Germans are scum' so we report it.
She added: "It is a lot of indirect racism and there has been nothing physical.
"Things are reported that in other places may not be. There have been no overtly anti-racist incidents."
She explained the school educates its pupils on the subject and said: "If they say these things we challenge them and tell them what they said is wrong and we report it.
"We take whatever sanctions we see fit with regards to the situation. Whether that be sitting and talking about it or if it is direct, we would consider exclusion."
2 Comments
by manuelization
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 1:42PM
“British people really do hate foreigners, immigrants and Gypsies. Regardless of the centuries that many of them have been here, such as the Romani, who have been here in the U.K for 500 years.
Only foreign pupils mix with other foreign pupils as Britain becomes more reserved, more social nationalistic, more brain-washed by the Mail and Express.
What this country is becoming is Nazi Germany, and many Brits want it.”
by Tim Southerwood, Pembury
Monday, October 13 2008, 7:38AM
“My nephew attended Mascalls on a six month exchange programme (he's from China) and as far as I know, he had no problems at all.
He seemed very popular and made a number of friends, so I cannot accept that the school has inherent problems.
As to the use of the work "pikey", "pikey" does not equate to "gypsy". Round my way, "pikey" refers to a criminally minded nusiance, without implications of any specific ethnic origin.
Perhaps inappropriate diction for a teacher, but a sacable offence? I fail to see why.”