I called my teacher sexist

mikesteane · 2017-04-03T09:41:35+00:00

Write a polite but firm letter to your dean using the correct terminology "modern teaching methodology", "professional fault", "inclusivity" (i.e. a demand that all views be respected regardless of whether or not your teacher agrees with them), "professional standards" (someone proposing that you shouldn't argue with statistics should be able to produce said statistics, someone making a proposition should be able to defend it if challenged etc.), etc.

Demand that the detention be cancelled and that the teacher should justify her actions. Does she have an inalienable right not to be offended? If so, do you not also have one, and should she not apologise for any comment you find offensive? Incidentally, the comment she made was sexist (as well as being of debatable truth).

thrway_1000 · 2017-04-03T11:52:25+00:00

How to File a Title IX Complaint.

Bluebird_North · 2017-04-03T09:53:22+00:00

You could have asked the same questions without being confrontational.

Sometimes, you have to break the rules because the rules are unfair. But generally that's not going to work at school, because the system is weighted against you. It's also best to try and work within any given system and within the rules, before deciding to rebel.

It sounds like you have been treated unfairly. Your teacher made a chauvinistic comment. A girl might well have attracted some support for challenging a similar sweeping generalisation made by a male teacher about girls. I doubt you will get the same.

How you approach this now, depends on whether you have any adults supporting you. If no, then be careful. The teacher and the school management can essentially use the system to dogpile you. It's unfair, but it is what it is — and you want your high-school diploma.

If you have any adult supporting you, I would ask them to firmly back you up with the argument that you overreacted in the way you challenged the statement; but you did so because you were angry that an adult — one who has a statutory responsibility to provide a service to all eligible citizens, without fear favour or prejudice — could make such a sweeping generalisation about all boys, in a way you feel was sexist and which made you feel discriminated against.

You could point out that several studies have found significant bias against boys in school and you believe strongly that it is everyone's duty not to reinforce harmful gender stereoptypes, whether against boys or girls.

Here are links to articles about some of the studies:

Study of Elementary School Children Finds Entrenched Discrimination Against Boys

https://winteryknight.com/2013/01/13/new-study-of-elementary-school-children-finds-entrenched-discrimination-against-boys/

Teachers 'give higher marks to girls'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-31751672

Acceptance for Boys Dropping Out

https://www.nhh.no/en/research/research-news/article-archive/2016/september/greater-acceptance-for-men-dropping-out/

Poor Behavior Hits Boys Hardest

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2016/06/22/poor-behavior-hits-boys-hardest/#6486b0f738e8

But don't go charging in waving "facts" that "prove" you're right and say she should apologise. She has all the power, so that is never going to happen. And getting your education is more important than trying to score points now. You can be of far greater use to the men's rights movement as an educated young man than as an uneducated one.

TLDR; stay calm; play within the rules, apologise for the manner of your delivery, but ask to be allowed to explain why you were angry and why you feel that such statements, and the beliefs behind them, are harming boys' educational and life chances.

If you're in the US — and you really want to go full-on with this (maybe not advisable from your personal perspective but that's up to you and your parents or guardian) — then isn't this a possible Title IX violation? I'm not American, so someone else would need to advise you.

Good luck. And keep your eyes on the big prize, which is successfully completing your education. If a teacher doesn't like you, that's the best way to prove him or her wrong.

DaeusPater · 2017-04-03T15:39:19+00:00

This is a teacher bullying her student. A teacher is responsible and accountable for whatever he/she speaks in class, it is not a place to blurt out personal opinions and force students to accept them. You did the right thing by being critical of her claims. If she is unable to justify her unrelenting stance, she does not deserve to teach. Please don't this personally, your only fault was having a penis and balls to question her bogus claims.

Fiorbeth · 2017-04-03T12:37:12+00:00

Tell the dean that you were offended by the teachers comments and that if you are punished for getting offended then you will be consulting with the local education authority about how you can proceed with filing a formal complaint against the school for the behaviour. If he doesn't get rid of the detention then follow through on the threat.

double-happiness · 2017-04-03T10:10:35+00:00

When I called her sexist

Perhaps it's just the way you're wording it here, but you would have been better off to call the comment sexist, not the person. Maybe that's not how you actually said it though, IDK.

Tedesche · 2017-04-03T13:53:33+00:00

If this was in an assembly, I wouldn't have pulled out the "you're sexist" gun right then and there. Rather, you ask for statistics or evidence to back up the claim in a polite fashion, and leave it up to them to provide a decent answer.

Afterwards, you file a written complaint with the school, requesting something concrete be done in response, like a formal statement disapproving of the sexism you witnessed at the next assembly. If they refuse to address the problem, that's when you have to decide whether or not you want to make the issue a legal one, which would more than likely require your parents' support.

Frankly, over just one incident such as you describe, it doesn't seem worth it to me. However, I would encourage you to write an article for the school paper or even just for one of your classes about it. Discuss the incident with friends and see what they think--any way you can spread awareness of the issue without antagonizing others helps (and seriously, try not to be a dick about it--too many activists are dicks).

terribletweets · 2017-04-03T16:32:16+00:00

she said that when girls talk they generally talk about what they are learning

Can you clarify this?

DougDante · 2017-04-04T00:22:15+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/MensRights/wiki/faq#wiki_26._is_there_a_boys_and_mens_crisis_in_education.3F

"Yeah, gender inequality is a serious issue, Miss Teacher. I'm so glad you brought up this important subject for classroom discussion.

"I was just reading how "Women in the United States now earn 62 percent of associate’s degrees, 57 percent of bachelor’s degrees, 60 percent of master’s degrees, and if male enrollment falls to 40 percent or below, female students begin to flee."

"We need strict Title IX enforcement to end the sexist culture of discrimination that hurts boys and men in education"

checks off and dates item

puts away list of facts

pulls it out the list the next day and reviews unchecked items to prepare for class

rg57 · 2017-04-04T00:45:41+00:00

Inquire at the ACLU.

If there has been a violation of your rights, they may want to take the case. They are unafraid of offending their SJW donors.

cld8 · 2017-04-04T04:10:51+00:00

Are you in school or college?

If you are in school, I suggest you ask your parents to write a letter to the principal. If you're in college, then do it yourself.

MagicTampon · 2017-04-04T04:49:54+00:00

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MemphisSmoke · 2017-04-04T13:43:10+00:00

You could have waited until after class or asked to speak to her privately.

Rasalom72 · 2017-04-04T16:46:47+00:00

Get your parents involved. Go to the school board because this "teacher" is not teaching facts, she is teaching opinion, and a sexist one at that.

the_unseen_one · 2017-04-04T20:41:44+00:00

Lol, she was offended by a student so that means she can have you punished? What a crock of shit.

Realistically, there is nothing you can do. When you're in in school below eighteen, you have no rights. Just play the game and eat the shit until you're free.

Caboose111888 · 2017-04-03T20:59:57+00:00

Correct me if I'm wrong but you literally pointed at your teacher and blurted out "sexist" in the middle of class after she said a fairly innocuous comment?

Title	I called my teacher sexist
Author	Blandpepper
Upvotes	88
Comments	46
Date	April 3, 2017 9:23 AM UTC (9 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/635oan/i_called_my_teacher_sexist/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/i-called-my-teacher-sexist.927044 https://theredarchive.com/post/927044

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