Is this being racist?

Question

There is a teacher at my school who won't let us talk in spanish not even 1 word. If he hears you speaking spanish he screams at you and he makes you get out of class. He is a white teacher. He also said that if we didn't like to speak spanish we could go back to mexico because he doesn't need us here. Is he racist. (I am a Mexican 14 year old female.)

Answer 1

I'd report his a** for this simple reason: His job is not to judge you or tell you his opinions on immigration in the United States. His job is to teach you.

I don't know if you're in the states legally or not, but either way I wouldn't tell you to speak English or leave. No one says anything to Italians, Polish, Japanese, Chinese, and Russians that speak their mother tongues in public. In fact, I would dare any brave person to do so. Would he get offended if you were speaking French or German? Probably not.

He shouldn't even be allowed to stay in the United States because he has no clue what the constitution means nor does he have any clue what his forefathers were trying to tell him.

Answer 2

Yes, he's probably racist, but you shouldn't speak spanish in class... I think it's a lack of respect, I live in Spain, and here in class you can only speak spanish, (except, of course, when you're in English or French classes), mostly, because the rest of the class or even the teacher cannot understand you... So, imagine for a moment that you're in Mexico (or your native country...) and in your class you'd have 3 russian guys, and they spoke in russian between them and of course, as they're young (14) they sometimes laughed, how would you know if they're laughing about the last joke or they're laughing about you...

Definetly is a lack of respect to speak another language than the native of the place where you live...

Answer 3

The way you describe him, he sounds racist, and the behavior you described shouldn't be tolerated from a teacher. The statement about "Going back to Mexico" should be reported, his superiors should know how he is treating his students.

At the same time it sounds to me that he was being very rude from frustration in response to your rudeness to him. From what you said, this is a classroom being taught in English (I assume since he doesn't speak Spanish). Speaking a foreign language in front of a person who doesn't speak the same language, especially in a situation where that person is responsible for teaching you a subject is considered rude. It is disrespectful to your teacher to exclude him from the conversation be deliberately speaking a language he doesn't share.

If you are talking about the subject being studied in class, you should include your teacher in the conversation, and if you are not discussing the subject being studied in class, you should save it for another time.

If you showed him respect, maybe he would show you some in return. Basic tenets of wisdom, "Do to others as you would have them do to you".

Answer 4

HI, He might be a racist, not so sure he is though. He IS a teacher and he probably wants you to learn to speak English since that is the language spoken here in the United States. It is for your own good to learn as much English as you can and as fast as you can. The more you continue to speak Spanish the longer it will take you to become fluent in English. There is also the rudeness factor. It is considered very rude to be speaking another language around those that do not know that language. I think he is just looking out for you and wants you to get along here in the United States with as few problems as possible. That is his job as a teacher.

Answer 5

Since you can actually speak English, you probably shouldn't speak Spanish in school since it's considered impolite when others can't understand what you're saying. Either way that is not an excuse for what he said, you need to report him to the principal ASAP.

Answer 6

Yes, it does sound like he is racist. You should tell an adult that you are concerned. But he may or may not be breaking a rule of the school, and it dosent sound illegal or anything.

It is rude of him to speak in such terms, but it is also considered rude to exclude others when speaking in some social situations. It is like whispering. He may just be trying to correct you, but this is no way to do it.

If you are in his class then you have a right to be there. Even if he does not think so, this is no argument to take up with a 14 year old. Please speak to someone.

Good Luck

Answer 7

Of course it's racist. You probably new that in you heart. His hatred is shouting out to you.

This is a problem. If he hates Spanish, you have every reason to believe he hates Spanish speaking people. He may not, but that's not something to leave to chance. You should tell your parents - have them contact the principle. You can also contact advocacy groups. They will help you.

Racism is the mark of stupid ignorant people. Unfortunately, these same people can be in positions to make life horrible. If you looked like Selma Hayek or Cameron Diaz he probably would keep his mouth shut, but because you probably look like the "typical Mexican" he hates you. That is racism. That is intolerable. This problem is bigger than you or your friends, but luckily there are laws in place to prevent that hatred, at least in schools, and groups to help you fight them. You need to do some research and enlist their help.

You should read the works of Cesar Chavez. This is a fight worth fighting.

Answer 8

well i believe that you should speak english if your school is in an english country as i have spanish in my family and they speak english out in school but spanish at home or around friends ect . but then are you racist as you wrote about him being white maybe he pissoff because he can't understand what you're saying but understand me here i believe he shouldn't speak to you that way i believe he has issues about other cultures being in his home land me people are people we have all types in my family we can't be racist . you might need to go to talk to someone about this at school as these type of people can do more harm than good but like i said before if you go to an english school speak english when you are in class at least.there could be a chance or not that he is racist the only way to find out is to report him or asked him or her but then some teachers you can't approach.

Answer 9

That sounds pretty bad to me. I agree that you should report him to the administration. There are actually some places that have regulations about not speaking languages other than English at school, but your teacher should never yell at you.

Answer 10

wow yeah hes racist. tell the school and get him outta there!

i understand that maybe he doesnt want people to speak spanish all the time since the students could be cheating by telling answers to a test or something...and it gets annoying...imagine if you moved to a mostly chinese area...and everyone in class spoke chinese even when they know english! its like everyone chinese is in thier little click and everyone not chinese is an outcast. but yeah your teachers too hardcore...his comment about "doesnt need us here" is really uncalled for.

Answer 11

racist is a term for people who believes that other races are not as good as their own and therefore treats them unfairly.

yes.he was racist. he was racist in the words he used because you were disrespect to him and class in the first place due to the language you used in his class. using Spanish in conversation when there are people around whose does not understand Spanish is rude.

your English sentences are full of grammar and vocabulary mistakes. you should start to practice English intensively in school in order to improve it. you should start to master English skill now since you already master your Spanish. English is the most important language in the world.