Wellbeing

Raising Respectful Children: Talking About Racist Language

At Resurrection School, we are incredibly proud of our diverse and multicultural community. Our many cultures, languages and backgrounds make our school a rich and welcoming place to learn and grow. We want every child and family to feel safe, respected, included and valued.

As part of our curriculum, students participate in learning experiences that promote respect, inclusion, empathy and positive relationships. Through our Respectful Relationships (RRRR) program, students develop an understanding of how their words and actions affect others, how to recognise hurtful behaviour and how to stand up for themselves and others.

Despite this important learning, there may still be times when children use racist or culturally insensitive language. Sometimes children repeat words or comments they have heard without fully understanding their meaning or the hurt they can cause. While this may explain why a comment was made, it does not make the language acceptable. These moments provide an important opportunity for both schools and families to educate children and reinforce our shared expectations.

How can parents help?

If your child uses racist language, or tells you about another child using it, we encourage you to approach the conversation calmly and openly.

• Stay calm and be curious. Ask your child, "What did you mean by that?" or "Where did you hear those words?" This helps you understand their thinking before responding.
• Explain why the words are hurtful. Help your child understand that comments about someone's skin colour, culture, nationality or background can make others feel embarrassed, excluded or unsafe, even if they were intended as a joke.
• Build empathy. Ask, "How would you feel if someone said something hurtful about you or your family?" Encourage your child to consider another person's feelings.
• Be clear about expectations. Remind your child that racist language is never acceptable, even when someone says they were "only joking".
• Encourage responsibility and repair. If your child has hurt someone, help them understand the impact of their words, offer a genuine apology and consider how they can make a better choice next time.
• Model respectful language at home. Children learn from the conversations, attitudes and behaviours of the adults around them. Celebrate differences and speak positively about people from all backgrounds.

Stop, Walk, Talk – A Strategy We Practise at School

At Resurrection, we teach children the Stop, Walk, Talk strategy to help them respond to unkind or inappropriate behaviour.

STOP: If it feels safe, use a calm, confident voice to say, "Stop. That's not okay."

WALK: Move away from the situation rather than engaging in an argument.

TALK: Tell a trusted adult what happened so they can help.

Children are reminded that they do not need to manage racist behaviour on their own. They can go directly to a trusted adult, particularly if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Reporting racist language is never dobbing; it is an important way of keeping everyone safe.

Encouraging Our Children to Be Upstanders

We also encourage students to be upstanders rather than bystanders. An upstander is someone who recognises when another person is being treated unfairly and takes safe, positive action.

This might mean saying, "That's not a kind thing to say," checking that the child who was hurt is okay, including someone who has been left out, or reporting the incident to a teacher.

Children do not need to confront others or place themselves in an uncomfortable situation to be an upstander. Sometimes the most powerful action is simply seeking help from an adult.

Working Together

We know that respectful behaviour is something children continue to learn and practise as they grow. By having open conversations at home and reinforcing the messages taught at school, we can help our children develop empathy, kindness and the confidence to speak up when something is not right.

If your child shares an experience involving racist language, whether they have been hurt by it, witnessed it or used it themselves, please let their classroom teacher know. This allows us to respond appropriately, support the children involved and continue the learning.

At Resurrection School, our commitment to Respect, Responsibility and Resilience means that racism has no place in our community. Together, we can ensure that every child feels a strong sense of belonging and pride in who they are.