Do you think this is the right message to give to our kids?

Question

I am a little concerned after reading comments on this site about immigration issues, and so I address this to people who are expressing strong opinions on this subject. I understand the system should be looked at and assessed, but my point is that immigrants HAVE come here, and asylum seekers too, and their kids are in the same schools as your kids. Kids are just kids. They will not understand the politics and will just know if they are being picked on by your kids who have learnt your attitudes from listening to you go on and on about 'scrounging immigrants' etc. Do you think this is fair, on either the kids of these people, who are trying to get used to new schools in a new country, or on your own kids who should be free to make a judgement of another person's character without the bias passed on by their parents?...

Answer 1

Look at the anti-immigrants closely and you will find that all their arguments boil down to racism and a dog-in-the-manger attitude, although most of them would vehemently deny that.
People with that kind of mindset are not likely to be generous in any other way, and their children will most likely have picked it up too.
I wouldn't be happy for any child to grow up with them, but what can you do? Fairness is the last thing they are really concerned with, in spite of their constant crying "It's not fair".

Answer 2

No I don't think it is fair for these children to be picked on because I wouldn't like it to happen to mine and I think ALL bullies should be dealt with harshly. I do think however the schools are struggling to cope with the influx. Yes as you say, they have come here, but by the MILLIONS and it's affecting our schools and I can see why the attitudes of parents are changing. For instance I worked in a school up until summer where more than a third of the children were immigrants, didn't understand the English language and the teachers were under a lot of stress trying to teach them basic things. Only a very small fraction of the parents could speak the English language so parents evening was a nightmare. I felt that it was affecting the other children because a lot of these children would come into school never having been in a school environment before and would disrupt the class with behavioural issues as well as learning issues. Not just in the class but in the playground too. Many would fight and were very rough and physical (ie. scratched). They had to get an interpreter in who struggled to cope (and left after a year) and yes I'm sorry to say I do think they many are "scroungers" as a lot of the women had one or two other children in tow and were pregnant and were known not to be in employment. Where's the fairness to our children? I know I've gone off the beaten track a bit but we need to start thinking about our own for a change. And I've never seen so many teachers hand in their notice over a year due to stress. (P.S. My children go to a school a mile down the road with no immigrants attending and which has always had excellent OFSTED reports, whereas the other school is one of the bottom 5 in the country with very poor reports and I believe immigration is the main problem).

Answer 3

I understand your concern but as someone else has stated on this thread, Britain is too soft on a lot of issues and especially on immigration. As a result, it is the British citizens who suffer.

I once read an article about a young boy who was refused a nursery place because he wasn't deprived enough. I'm not kidding here it was in the Birmingham Mail some time last year! This child was robbed of the the chance to meet other children his age because he spoke english and lived in a house with a back garden!

Another example of why so many people are unhappy is a case which took place in the Education Authority building where I work. An Somalian lady telephoned our reception and asked what she could "get for free." When asked for clarification she gave a list of items she was told she was entitled to, such as free school meals and free uniforms for her children. When my friend explained to her that we don't offer those services anymore (and haven't done so for years) she then demanded a home improvement to the house that was "given to her."

Have you heard that we can't put up Christmas decorations of St George's flags up anymore? It might offend the immigrants and non-christians. Nor are our children allowed to sing "Ba Ba Black Sheep" anymore. It's racist. They must now sing "Ba Ba Rainbow Sheep" so that everyone feels included.

I know that I sound like a ranting racist here but I'm not. My parents were immigrants and they came here with nothing. They worked hard to get a good education and/or employment so that my sister and I could have the best life possible. But that was a time when people, and especailly immigrants took whatever job they could get. The thought of living off of handouts was unthinkable. The attitude of today's society and immigrants of today has declined. All you hear about is what everyone is "entitled to" and how they have"the right" to this, that and the other, yet very few natives are willing to work for it. What makes you think immigrants will? When in Rome and all that.

The real problem is not the immigration. It's Political Correctness and it's desperate attempt to not offend anyone. That is the real reason why a relative minority of sponging immigrants have come here, making it harder for those who truly need our help and sanctuary. That is the reason why they have not only been allowed through the gates, but also allowed to dissapear when their right to stay expires or is refused. It is becuase of PC why British Citizens have to walk on proverbial eggshells over what is said and done about foreigners yet a hook-handed terrorist is allowed to enter our country and preach to anyone who'll listen that all non-muslims should die.

Only when British society gets rid of the whole farce that is Political Correctness will we be able to solve this problem logically and fairly.

Answer 4

Yes, I agree with you. Psychological studies have shown that there is a link between children having the same phobias as their parent, as they have been brought up like that, so in this case a "fear" of immigrants. Obviously, not actually a fear, more of a dislike as it has passed on from the previous generation.
Personally, I like the fact that new people come here because it varies the country. Also, brings in new resources-new workers. Okay, there are disadvantages such as we pay tax for them to have free healthcare etc and I do think Britain needs to rethink its immigration policy to make it less appealing for thousands of people to come here.
Children are a blank canvas. They do not care if the child is white, black, Asian etc... It is the parent or other social interaction that makes them bully others, or hate them.
There was a case with a placid child, "little Albert", he was given a white rat and played with it. The next time a loud clanging noise was made behind his ear. Each time he was given the rat the noise was made. Soon he became terrified of the rat. This is learnt behaviour, so it is the same with children and immigrants.
In addition, if every time he was given the rat he was given sweets, it may reverse the learnt behaviour so he became to like the rat.
This can be the same with younger children, they can be taught to see that bullying immigrants is wrong etc... In addition, become aware that they are still people just like anyone else. In all fairness no matter what your opinion on immigration it is definitely not their kids fault, so passing on your prejudices to your child, may result in another innocence child to be hurt, emotionally or physically.
Children are a person in their own right. Therefore, they deserve to make their own judgements about others.
Becky x

Answer 5

I dont think my kid is in the same school as their kids, I shall check but when a teacher has to spend lots of time on non english speakers then the education of indigenous children must suffer.
Why should my kid work his way up through the ranks to become night shift manager of his local Mc Donalds just because his outstanding abilities as a potential merchant banker are buried by concern over Asylum seekers children.
It aint you bleeding heart LIB Dems nice secure jobs these folk undercut and destroy but farming, Student summer jobs in agriculture just about no longer exist because the Asylum seekers have them or mine, motor trade, I pay insurance taxes etc. I cannot compete with someone half my age with no overheads. Oh lets rehabilitate this criminal /or help this poor asylum seeker by giving him a Motor trade qualification, like what I got yet I spent 30 years building experience only to be flung on the scrapheap when the dealership closed completely.
Who the hell would employ a 50 year old with 30 years experience on Rover s and a bad back in favour of a 25 year old Pole or Azerbaijani

I think the views expressed are very moderate compared to peoples true feelings.

Answer 6

I have problems with immigrants not because I am racist, but because I have concerns about how Britain is such a soft touch and hands out free healthcare and benefits to people coming into the country where other countries aren't a such a soft touch. my older two children who are 10 and 11 years old know my opinions and I have explained to them the concerns people have about immigration in our society. I can say hand on heart that me and my children are not remotely racist and would not dream of picking on anybody as that is not what I have ever taught them or advocated. My children are also aware of the sad fact that something that they innocently say can easily be misconstrude in todays society of political correctness and the race card being held up at every available opportunity, so if anything my children are frightened to open their mouths to make an innocent remark.

Answer 7

this country has always prospered by having lots of immigrants. right now we need to have skilled workers as we are living longer and our birth rate is rather low. If we do not correct this in about 30 or 40 years time there will not be enough skilled workers to earn the money to pay the pensions. Immigration is the way we must go. Accurate figures are difficult to get but those we have suggest currently immigrants contribute more to the economy in taxes etc than they cost in benefits

Answer 8

there wouldnt be a problem if there wernt all the bloody immigrants here. british people should stand up for their country or in years to come, true british people will be the minority.
there is far too much political correctness going on now, its rediculous. the kids shouldnt be here in the first place, its their parents fault if they get picked on. they shouldnt come here and shove them in our schools. the british parents are entitled to be bias if they want to. its infuriating when immigrants come here and get everything and the british have to fight for any tiny scrap. its all wrong. i know someone who was british, had been here all their lives and were waiting for housing and they were told, if u were an immigrant, u would have got it by now. we should look after our own first and quite frankly, i couldnt give a flying fig if immigrants kids get picked on. im fed up of seeing them come here and get special treatment. i never discussed stuff like this with my kids, they have been able to make up their own minds.

Answer 9

No i dont think its right for any kid to be picked on in school where ever they come from but what excatly are you suggesting a ban on ever speaking about the subject of imigrants milking the benefits system in uk, whenever a child is in the room or within ear shot! Perhaps the parents of these "immigrant" kids should think about the effect of their desicion to leave their home country would have on their kids.

Answer 10

let the ones that already live here stay but just close the gate to the rest that are trying to come in if the goverment could only see this then we would be a better country and we would not have to go on about immigration and the lack of housing and jobs