[JosieWales]

I live in a mostly white rural area, but we do have several Mexican immigrant families, most of who have been here for at least 5 years or so. Lots of their kids are citizens by birth or have been here since early elementary school.

And yet, a junior girl, who has been in the USA since she was seven, went home yesterday because she couldn't stop crying. They were discussing swine flu in her social studies class, and one boy said, "We need to close the borders to keep all those sand monkeys out!" And another girl said, "We really just need to bomb Mexico, get rid of it, get it over with!" The boy's girlfriend tried to get him to shut up, and he said, "What? It's the truth!" and the other kids laughed. All this with her sitting right there. (Not to mention she's the sweetest, kindest, gentlest soul ever. And probably the smartest kid I have all day.) She started crying, and eventually the nurse sent her home. (She insisted the teacher didn't hear any of this, although I highly doubt that, knowing the loudness of the kids who said these things.)

She started crying today when she was telling me about it. I guess she let the principal know yesterday when it happened (her friends urged her to) but she wouldn't tell him names. She told me their names today, and I passed it on to my husband, who is assistant principal.

I don't know what they'll do to those kids. I haven't talked to DH yet. But I have been shaking with anger and have had a lump in my throat for 2 hours, ever since she told me. I have had to control my anger and let the principal and DH take care of it--instead of confronting those kids, which is what I want to do.

And I want to go home and sweep up my sweet Owen into my arms and hold him tight. That, I WILL do.

[millie58]

Racism has been alive in this country too long for it to just die. I can also see the conservatives blaming swine flu on all Mexicans. Very sad.

[mommytoEli]

my 2 oldest kids are Mexican. But you would never guess by looking at them. So they are in a unique situation....people view them as white, so they are treated as white, i think they view themselves as white, but they know they are Mexican. so their friends at school have been saying awful things about Mexicans (not knowing)....and my kids are just floored. they aren't sure what to say because in their school they are part of the minority, it makes them sick to hear what these people are saying, but they are accepted into the majority, and don't want to lose that. how hard it must be to be a teenager today. it just tells me that racism is where i live.....and eli is part of a VERY small minority here.....i'd just like to put eli in a bubble and protect him from all the stupid people in the world....do you think they sell those on ebay.

[Guatemom]

Originally Posted by millie58

Racism has been alive in this country too long for it to just die. I can also see the conservatives blaming swine flu on all Mexicans. Very sad.

Be easy, please. I'm a conservative, but I do NOT "blame all Mexicans" for swine flu. To me your comment was hurtful, why lump everyone together like that?
I would also like to add that I do find the comments that poor girl experienced absolutely disgusting. And yes, it is true, racism of ALL kinds, is unfortunately alive and well.
Becca, I am so sorry this happened, but I am glad that she had someone like you to comfort her.

[sheababy]

It's awful what kids say but it seems like this would be an opportune time for the teachers to educate the kids about other cultures and about what the swine flu means to them-ie it is still safe to eat pork etc.

It is sad that they have not been taught better at home but it seems like the school has some work to do!

[SKL]

My Muslim friends' children went through something even worse than this after 9-11. It is so sad that the kids often take the brunt of ignorance of all kinds.

I too am a conservative who isn't blaming anyone for the swine flu. I just feel sorry for those populations who have suffered most - biologically and economically. If we could keep politics out of it, perhaps we could confine the problem rather than exacerbate it.

[JustBarbara]

And we all know where these kids got their views, right? At home. Of course, they probably hear some of it from their friends who got it from their parents. Having said that, I can see if this swine flu escalates (and I think it will) that Mexicans and anyone looking like they could be hispanic/ latino will be on the receiving end of some nasty comments. A junior in high school 'should' know better - this is bullying at it's worst. Not just at an individual but for all of the people she represents. I don't like suspensions, I prefer detentions and making them do some work around the school. I have zero tolerance for this type of verbal abuse. I wasn't there but it would seem highly unlikely that the teacher didn't hear at least some of this - if the teacher didn't then the teacher needs to be replaced. This makes me so sad - and angry. Yes, please let's not bring politics into it - this is just plain wrong. Just my opinion.

[dance_muffin]

Frightening to hear such hatred from these students. I would propose to try to change their way of thinking by giving them a mandatory community service project for a latino/multi-ethnic group of people. Even if it's in a town over from where you live. Whether it's mentoring younger children, teaching reading, teaching english; it will allow the students that made these racial comments to have the opportunity to develop relationships with a latino people; and hopefully come to understand just how ignorant and wrong their prior thoughts and words were.

[SKL]

Originally Posted by dance_muffin

Frightening to hear such hatred from these students. I would propose to try to change their way of thinking by giving them a mandatory community service project for a latino/multi-ethnic group of people.

I love the idea of a community service project. Unfortunately, I think if you made these kids help a group of needy Hispanics, some of their impressions of Hispanics might only be reinforced. I would love to see them have to go side-by-side with Hispanic youths to work on a project that doesn't involve needy Hispanics per se. I agree that they would learn a lot from working with people of the Hispanic culture - far beyond realizing that they have been unfair.

Hopefully just talking to these teens and their parents individually would wake them up to their stupidity. Unfortunately, young people are too ready to jump on a bandwagon and do/say things that they never would have thought of on their own.

I also feel the young victim here needs some attention. I hope she can see that despite the abuse she was subjected to, she is a better person than those youths and has so much to be proud of. I'd love for the silent majority of her classmates to have the opportunity to show her that they are offended on her behalf.

[dspakowsky]

I've been experiencing this lately... we're fixing up an older home to re-sell. Each time I got a bid for a project, I would hear how I should get "Mexicans" to do it cheap. Other's would say "Mexicans do sloppy work". Or "Mexicans are not expected to do well" (in their work) etc. It's all been very shocking. One of my family members would not get a quote for drywall installation in his house from the guy I used "because you didn't see his papers to know if he's legal..." I asked why would he assume he's not legal?
You get the idea. It's been sad. However, in the town I live in they still call black people colored. I needed help at my house and my builder said he'd get his "colored boy" to help me. Seriously.
I'm sorry that young girl heard those terrible comments, but I bet she hears them more often than not.

[joepegcamp]

Originally Posted by millie58

I can also see the conservatives blaming swine flu on all Mexicans.

In all due respect, I find this comment to be as offensive as the kids' comments toward that little girl. I'm a conservative who believes that the racism exhibited by the students at Josie's school was disgusting. Just because you know of a few conservatives filled with hate doesn't mean that all conservatives are like that. I could stereotype progressives. You wouldn't like it. So why do it to others?

The flu was discovered in Mexico. Germs and viruses don't discriminate. They flourish in any environment in any society on the planet. This time Mexico is the hot spot. Next time? Who knows? Maybe in our communities. Maybe in a far off country.

Josie, I come from Southeast Missouri and have family doting the land throughout the bootheel. The only thing that will reverse the stereotypes are educators like you and your husband. It looks like you have a wonderful teaching moment on your hands.

[DDAmasa]

The schools should be pointing out that it's actually middle and upper-middle class Americans traveling to and from Mexico on business and vacation that are spreading this around the country. It's also spreading to Europe and Asia the same way. Through business and tourist travel.

[jaenelle]

Originally Posted by joepegcamp

In all due respect, I find this comment to be as offensive as the kids' comments toward that little girl. I'm a conservative who believes that the racism exhibited by the students at Josie's school was disgusting. Just because you know of a few conservatives filled with hate doesn't mean that all conservatives are like that. I could stereotype progressives. You wouldn't like it. So why do it to others?

Ditto for me.

[carolynpep73]

So sad. My heart goes out to this girl. No child should have to endure racism in this day and age. Like many other things, many of these comments begin with the fostering of these attitudes at home. It sounds like they need to educate these students instead of punish them.

This election year I had a first grader come in the day after the election and tell the class that she and her family were going to move to Australia because Obama was president and he was black. It's sad to hear and I cannot blame a six year old for what she hears at home. You can bet that we did a lot of diversity lessons over the next few months...

Encourage this girl that these are the thoughts of a very small minority and not the general population. Give her some extra sqeezes...

[lmvsmom]

Originally Posted by millie58

Racism has been alive in this country too long for it to just die. I can also see the conservatives blaming swine flu on all Mexicans. Very sad.

Umm, excuse me, where did all this come from? If it it's not okay to stereotype people of different races, then it is certainly NOT okay to stereotype people with different political views than yourself. You owe this forum an apology.