Race concerns at primary school after children 'insulted'
A primary school has called on town councillors for help to stamp out racism in the community after reports some youngsters had been insulted.
Maesyrhandir Primary School in Newtown has taken action after teachers were approached by pupils who said they had heard racist words outside school.
Staff want Newtown Town Council to lead an anti-racism campaign to stamp the issue out and make it clear that such behaviour is unacceptable in society.
The issue has been discussed by councillors at a meeting, where it was suggested pupils of ethnic minorities had been insulted. No action will be taken by the council in the short term and members have agreed to monitor the situation.
Alison Ellis, headteacher, said: "It was due to pupils witnessing racist behaviour outside of school and bringing this to our attention and asking for us to take action that prompted the governors to write to the town council to raise councillors' awareness.
"In school we are fully aware of how racist comments and behaviour can affect the children we work with on a daily basis.
"The school deals with any incidents of racism in an open and honest way and our pupils are very aware of the implications of such behaviour."
Councillors said the school itself did not have a racism problem but that staff had written to the council to lead an anti-racism campaign.
Councillor Susan Hill told Monday night's town council meeting that she had been approached by the school with concerns.
She said: "This came about when Maesyrhandir School came to me and said there had been incidents where racist remarks had been made by pupils to classmates.
"Pupils of ethnic minorities had been insulted and the school wants to know whether the council can take the lead in the local area in tackling racism.
"I have looked at how other town councils tackle racism and I have spoken to the police to see if it is an issue at the other town primary schools.
"They seem to think that there have been other incidents across the town, but maybe not in schools."
Councillor Phil Watkins, a town councillor and governor at the school, said he believed the problem came from what pupils were hearing at home.
He said: "I am aware of this, but the racism is not coming from the school and I want to make that clear.
"It does not have a racism problem and it is not emanating from the school.
"Children of that age are not racist, they see no differences between anybody, but it is things the children hear when they are maybe at home.
"It is not confined to Maesyrhandir, they have just alerted the council to the issue and we can see what we can do to help.
"I do not want people to get the impression that it is all at Maesyrhandir," Councillor Watkins added.
