Disclaimer: As a student, you should always comply with your school’s health and safety policies. Do not intervene if you are putting yourself or others at risk of injury or harm.
Scenario
You are a high school student in your English class. A group of your classmates who are late from lunch noisily enter the classroom. They sit at your table. To your left sits a classmate wearing a hijab.
One of the group members looks over at the student wearing the hijab and smirks to his friends. He walks up to this student and asks, “Where’d you get your scarf from?” another friend chimes in, “Your tea towel, I really like it. You know in Australia we use tea towels for washing dishes.” The friend grabs the end of the scarf and wiggles it around. They all laugh and the student wearing the hijab looks down.
What would you do?
Action 1: Do nothing and continue to observe behaviour
Ending: The student gets up out of her seat and runs out of the classroom. Her head is down and she does not make eye contact with anyone as she walks off. The group laughs and jeers as she leaves.
Comment: You were a bystander during an incident of racism and took no action. Next time, try to help and facilitate a better outcome.
Action 2: Intervene- Walk up to one of the members and shove their shoulder.
Ending: You walk up to one of the group members and shove their shoulder. He shoves you back and one of his friends grabs your arms. You exchange blows and the classroom teacher quickly intervenes and separates both of you. You both get sent to the principal’s office and are given warnings of suspension.
Comment: This is not acceptable student behaviour or bystander action. You should endeavour to intervene in a safe manner and not endanger yourself or others. Furthermore, the incident of racism was not addressed, which has rendered this intervention ineffective.
Action 3: Speak up. You look at the group and say, “Hey guys. Leave her alone.”
You notice some other classmates nod in approval. One of the members respond, “Oh come on we were just having a laugh.”
Agree
You say, “Uh yeah, I guess it’s fine if you’re just joking. It was pretty funny.”
Ending: The student gets up out of her seat and runs out of the classroom. Her head is down and she does not make eye contact with anyone as she walks off. The group laughs and jeers as she leaves.
Comment: While you initially intervened in a safe and appropriate manner, you supported racist behaviour by agreeing that racist jokes were acceptable. Jokes are one of many ways to legitimise and get away with racism. It is important to call this out, and support victims of racism where appropriate.
Disagree
You say, “I don’t think it’s very funny to insult someone in that way. How would you feel if someone insulted you because of your beliefs or culture?”
Ending: The student looks at you and makes eye contact. The group smirks and says, “Get over yourself”.
Comment: You intervened in a safe and appropriate manner by calling out that racist jokes are not acceptable. You supported the victim by calling out the racism and letting her know that it is not OK. You asked a question so that the group could reflect on their action. You may consider asking the group to apologise, and checking in with the victim to see how she is feeling.
Get the attention of your teacher
You raise your hand and get the attention of your classroom teacher.
Ending: You explain what happened and the classroom teacher prompts and redirects the students to behave respectfully.
Comment: When they think the teacher is not looking, the group continue to make snide comments about the student’s hijab. The teacher turns, hearing this and immediately intervenes. The students are disciplined for their behaviour.
The teacher reports this incident, and also extends support to the victim of racism.