My contention is that primary schools should be taught about racism. I will discuss why I believe my contention to be true. We still see racism in our society and I believe much of it comes from home, the way we were brought up. We cannot prevent the ways in which parents educate their kids on morality, but we can make sure the kids are educated on racism during primary school. I want to tell you a story of myself, when I was seven and a half years old. I suffered from school bullies. I remember it clearly, like it yesterday. About four girls almost three years older than me came up to me one day, they sieged me to a corner and asked me to speak English. Back then, I did not talk and refused to speak. They asked me if I could speak Mandarin in a mocking way and they refused to allow me to leave. I tried to leave but they would not allow me. This went on a couple of days afterwards, they would force me to say awful things about myself and only left when the bell went.
My key argument is for teachers to educate students and therefore change behaviors in students about racial discrimination. Research has shown that East Asian students recorded the highest rate of racism, at 44%, while Aboriginals and Torres Strait islanders reported 30%. A study conducted in August 2019 from Australian National University and Western Sydney University found one in three students’ victims to racial discrimination by their peers. Associate professor Naomi Priest, said the survey offered a first of its kind data point for the prevalence of racism in Australian Primary Schools. Priest said, racial discrimination was a reflection of our wider society. Researchers asked students whether they had been insulted or called names, been left out of activities, been threatened, spat at, hit or violently attacked as a result of their race or their ethnicity. Research has shown that there is racism in primary schools that is why I believe we should do something about it, through education. Through education, students might become more inclusive and kind to others, so they would not single people out for being different. They would be more accepting of all cultures and understand that it is okay to be different. It can prevent physical, emotional, mental and verbal harm, which can be in a child for the rest of their lives.
When Primary schools are taught something about racism, it creates a more cautious environment and makes everyone aware that such name-calling can cause severe damage. It also makes the children aware that they should try and include everyone, so that it also benefits their education as well as their social life. The study shows that one out of third students from Primary and Secondary school have experienced racism in some form. It is either about religions or ethnicity, it includes the food that they eat or the accent that they have. They feel victimized and offended by the way they were called names and treated differently just because they are from another ethnicity. Such issues can cause learning difficulties because they will be too focused on social drama and not aware of their educational life, which is what school is all about in the first place. Sometimes, when it comes to religion-bullying things can get too much. They can feel as though their thoughts are not worthy and that their lives don’t matter. Sometimes such name-calling can even lead to suicide. So if students were taught on racism from a younger age, then they will have a mindset of what to do and what not to do, so that everyone can have an equal opportunity to make friends and learn in a way which is fair.
I would like to include that name-calling and racist comments from a younger age can cause psychological damage towards their future mental-wellbeing. For example, if a girl with dark hair and darker skin, who eats rice gets picked on for what she eats and how she speaks, then she have an increased risk of getting depression from a later age. If someone has been made fun of because of their religious beliefs that can also cause just as much damage towards their mental-wellbeing. Even though that does not occur until later stages of life, mainly during middle and high school, it does not create a good vibe for the students to focus on their education as well as being called names. Even though it makes teachers difficult to teach about racism as well as school-subjects at the same time, there should be a class where it teaches about humanity and racism. It can emphasis that racism is not ok in any way or form. Sometimes such mindsets such as this is better to be taught at a younger age, even though many primary school kids may not even know the concept of racism and what it does to others.
I want to conclude that Primary schools should be taught on racism. The way we were brought up can, indeed bring about the mindset of whether we are racist towards others or not, however school also plays a major role in that. Our experiences at school, especially from a younger age can also impact our thoughts. So if schools bring about morality then there would not be racist comments and behaviors amongst children and teenagers.