I agree move somewhere more comfortable but let the higher ups in the school know exactly why because no one is getting behind you and supporting you - I do remember a soc psych experiment that was done with mixed races in school about prejudice and i can't find it on the internet at the moment will keep looking it was about the children of colour being told they had to wear collars the next day it changed to the other children but thats about all i remember anyone here who can get a link for it please?

Change schools/district. There are kids and coworkers EVERYWHERE who will appreciate your efforts.

Your story reminds me of my fist years as a teacher. One hour drive every day - - Started on a Native American reservation and although I was not the only white person there, I was one of less then a dozen of over 500 people.

Although I eventually managed to befriend several elders, (and was publicly awarded a star blanket) I can relate to being the wrong color. Because of the color of my skin, (they knew no other trait) the all native cafeteria workers called me "waSHEcho" “washecho” means taker of fat or white person. waSHEcho meant "dis-questing sticky shit that stains your skins with a rancid stench, utterly repulsive. One day I placed my entire contents of my cafeteria lunch on my plate (that I paid a good amount of money for) on one spoon. That was the last day I ate there as I chose to purchase old bread at the bread store and eat two slices a day (more food then I was getting at the cafeteria) for lunch.

The next year three of the cooks from the cafeteria preached every Monday morning welcome back to school in the auditorium for grades think - 9. They were all products of Catholic boarding school (US gov gave church money to (civilize) natives. These women were fully indoctrinated.

They taught the kids:

You are worthless
You are evil
You deserve to burn in hell forever because an evil woman listened to a snake and seduced a man into eating a fruit.
The world is an evil place. It is only a testing ground to find those worthy of heaven with faith.
The church is the only place that is not evil. All else on the earth is evil.
Because you are evil and worthless, you will burn in hell forever unless you come to the church to beg Jesus for his forgiveness
The devil is real and lives on the earth.
The devil is stronger then you.
You will do bad things because you are weaker then the devil and the devil controls you. But that’s ok because you don’t control yourself because you are so weak. As long as you come to the church and beg Jesus for forgiveness because he died for your evil sins you will not burn in hell forever.

I understood the foundation of their racism. They were taught by the church to hate themselves and their world.

During that time (they took turns each Monday morning) the school also had a few young men in their 20’s that taught us what their elder taught them:

You are good
All on the earth is good
You do not own the earth, you borrow it from your children.
It is your moral responsibility to leave a healthy world for your children as you ancestors left a healthy world for you.
You are a human. This is the highest honor as it is your responsibility to be a brother to others. If they need help, you will help them as your are good.
If you make a mistake. Fix it. You are responsible and good.
You must respect all, including yourself and elders as you have much worth.

The white man’s religion completely turned this world upside down and NOT in a healthy way.

In my case I avoided the cafeteria and, on my own initiative, made it a practice to greet with a smile and a compliment and shake the hand of every student as he/she entered the school. - - This produced outcomes that were generally productive but very much a double-edge sward. - - -

In my case as a product of many hours talking with elders I had had a fairly good understanding of their history and culture. Their cultural historical foundation was not based on an Abrahamic god but ancestor worship. Really a good system as it promotes you to do good and leave the world a better place for your offspring so you can be respected after you die. (not that I believe in living dead ancestors) This did give me an alternative platform if someone asked me about Jesus. I told them I found the traditional (insert listed teachings above) values to the Christian (insert listed teachings above)

Back to your current predicament.

Document is wise: detail, date, event, time: (outcome?)

In your environment, if my sources are correct and your place is representative of the demographics you work with, very theistic. You are most likely wise to find friend with similar (rational) ideas in these pages.

Everything has a cost. The early years working on the res had great emotional costs. I found solace working on a farm after school and on week-ends. I also found great joy playing bassoon in the community orchestra and the Elks (community) band, singing in the community choir and a most pleasant time performing as an actor in the community theater. Without those distractions, I am not sure I would have been able to survive.

Hope you find an effective methodology to survive your environment. I have a small understanding how hard it is as I spent a decade on the school on the res and witnessed many interactions including the teacher that could not wear long shirts because her daily (student induced) bruises hurt too much when the shirt sleeves touched her black and blue skin, or the teacher that came to school in her night gown and asked “Who are you? Do you know who I am?” - - the school sent her to a mental hospital and after many months, she was able to remember who she was.

Wishing the best for you.

Sad to say that it sounds pretty tribal. Not much advice beyond hang tough. Hope others here have some good suggestions.

Hold on, this is going to be lengthy response.

First, I teach at a historically black high school where 3 out of 894 students are white and 4 or Hispanic or other. Staff is about 15% white. I have had my problems with students at first, but now they know that I am on their side and those problems have gone away. I will cover why later. I still have problems with admin. I went almost all last year from August to March complaining that A/C needed to be fixed before I had a heart attack. When I finally had a heart attack they fixed it. We recorded triple digit temps. Had a student put hand sanitizer and crayon shavings in my drink and post on Instagram without me knowing. Admin investigated and told students not to tell me and still have not told me anything. Now have me teaching 11 classes instead of 6, 2 classes at the same time for 5 periods.

Second, are you a member of a teacher's union? If not I highly recommend either NEA or AFT. I am a member of both. If you are a member contact your union rep.

Thirdly, even though it is difficult, focus only your students and ignore the rest.

With every conflict, I try to stay as far away from emotions as possible, even though it is usually emotions that cause conflict. So when someone calls me a name or accuses me of some slight or action that is not true, I start calmly acknowledging the way they seem to feel (angry, hurt, mad at me, whatever), and then ask them what they think would be the right thing. But you have to be able to stay cool headed and be ready for any type of answer, so you may want to practice with someone else first.
And, if you feel you have to take this to a superior, it's usually better, at least in the U.S., to go to them as if you are looking for help and advice from them in handling one difficult person, or one issue, and not as if you are trying to 'report' that person, even if you are. Managers here want it to be their idea to take disciplinary action, not as a response to a complaint from you. And continue to document what happens, but unless required, I wouldn't share with superiors on a daily basis, even if I put notes in the students file that often. Record keeping is always very important. Whatever you do, don't let a toxic environment affect your health and well being. You may want to consider looking for alternative employment where you will be more appreciated. Good luck.

Hi! In your post, you are alleging "blatant" racism, but you give no specific examples. Can you elaborate on that? If we knew just what the specific incidence(s) of racism are we would be better able to advise you or comment constructively.

I taught in a title 1 school for 15 years. I look white but people don’t know what’s inside. I always was fair but when setting classroom culture and rules, often got accused of being “racist” by one of the students. My dad was raised in Swaziland, South Africa and my mom was born in Turkey. I was born in England, my brother was born in Japan. My grandparents were immigrants. How can I be racist? It’s very unfair and I always tried to be reasonable with the student and explain why the word they were using was not the correct one. Dealing with the parents was a whole other matter. I would not meet with a parent alone but would ask a counselor or admin to sit in. All in all, I loved my job 99% of the time.

I hope you find peace and support. One of the reasons I joined here. I’m spending 6 months in the South from California and the racism, over-zealous religionism, and politics is starting to get to me.

I'm sure you didn't base your educational pursuits to listen to how and perform. I think this individual may like you and is testing you or throwing you into the open for everyone to view your reactions. I had a student pull this once in front of the whole class by saying "You Don't Like Me" and I calmly addressed the whole class by telling the individual and the whole class " That I don't like any of you"
You are not in a personality contest. You are there to educate, further and develop and being the odds are 100+ vs. 1 keep the perspective that the mentioned individual has to realize that if he has an issue with you to go see a Guidance Counselor but there are 99 others whom are looking for brighter horizons. Race is always a cheap way of coping out for one who does not wish to apply himself, but wants to drag everyone else down.
Everyone is not going to agree with you or be compatible with your way of presentation. You have to define yourself as an educator first and foremost and not a big brother or sister to anyone. Sliding someone by will hurt them later on. Stopping them makes them and everyone watching that you have character, purpose and standards.

It sounds like you would be better off biding your time for now. Don't make waves when there is nothing concrete that you can point to. Work on personal relationships. Don't get flustered or angry. Keep your cool. Document everything noteworthy, but keep it private. Don't email on sensitive issues until you have all your ducks in a row.

I would suggest engaging them in conversation.

Often racism stems from ignorance and long held beliefs that have been ingrained since childhood. Ask this person for advice, opinion on any matter, be genuinely interested in them. Sopprt them, ask if you can help them. Then if you find they continue to be rude and disrespectful, that's when I would take other actions.

Decide if this is a fight you want to fight.
Documentation is very important.
If you want to fight this contact your union or teachers association for guidance.
If you are getting nowhere, and still want to fight then contact the ACLU for help.
It just depends on how far you are willing to go.

You sound to me like you're describing a generic dysfunctional workplace with poor management and teamwork, but I'm not seeing anything in what you wrote that is racist. You say the racism is "blatant" and yet you don't describe it at all. Perhaps you could be more specific.

As for outing yourself as atheist or agnostic ... that might be the larger problem now. I wouldn't consider this site "safe for work".

Find a nanny cam on the internet and record EVERYTHING! If it's a nanny cam you may forget you have it on and not seem paranoid. This is a situation where you prepare for the worst but hope for the best. It's a CYA situation. (Cover Your Ass). You may have a lawsuit in your future. Be prepared. And start putting in applications in other places in the meantime.

I've worked in toxic environments before... Leaving felt amazing.. Even if the future is frightening.

I would document everything. You say you work in a branch, which gives me the impression there may be other locations. Maybe ypu can request a transfer? Bottom line, its not a good fit for you if you are feeling harassed in any way. As an educator, you should feel like you are contributing to the growth of your students. If you feel this obstacle is too great to do an effective job, then unfortunately, the longer the stay, the more disheartened you're going to feel. If you choose to stay, put your time in, get your resume out there and keep moving forward. Good luck in your decision.

Document everything, time dates, witness's. Ask for a hearing. I assume you are Union, talk to your rep and local. Tell the pic (person in charge) you need the job and just want to do a good job. At some point you have to face the accusers. Part of understanding racism is realizing that we all have the same fears and, yes, bigotry. Your only option is transparency. You also have to have thick skin, starting any job creates threats to other employees real or otherwise. We all have challenges, I cannot realistically judge yours but you have to make a decision, do you really need the job? If so, hold your head up, go to work and do the best you can. Take comfort in the fact that while there is unfairness many have suffered worse and good work is hard to criticize over time. Prove yourself.

I have nothing but sympathy for you. I teach in a school with a lot of students who are disadvantaged and poorly prepared for college. Some of them have behaviors that were not acceptable in my day. It seems like they try to bully professors into making things easier. I am fortunate to have the support of my chair. The classroom environment can be difficult to manage but you learn as you go along.

Overt confidence works wonders. Go into this like you own the place and keep it up. Easy to say, tough to do. If you can pull it off, you can make some changes. If you can't do it, you either change your job or change your mind. Good luck, hon.

As soon as you turn to Admin, you become Everyone's enemy and considered a problem.
That is my experience working in an all-male environment in a shipyard in the 80's. Carried a big wrench, loud mouth, and sense of humor with me at all times, settled stuff "privately", became not only accepted but beloved, sort of.
You may be too tender for this environment, is there somewhere you could transfer out to, for a fresh start?

Apply for the same position where there are more Caucasians, in the same educational institution, hopefully, in a location closer to home,

You can report the racism, but it risks employers seeing you as a trouble maker.

I am a retired LRSD high school teacher and taught in an inner city school with a mixed and very diverse student population. I would recommend when you have conferences with troubling students and or their parents, ALWAYS have an administrator present during these sessions. Their is no excuse for rude behavior. Most kids that show out like this are not up to grade level for whatever reasons and remove themselves from the learning environment by misbehaving.

"Then he got brave enough to call me a F B the very next day, got suspended for a few days and everything is hush hush now"

That incident is grounds enough to justify wearing body a cam and recording.
Document, document, document.

But, also, lay out the guidelines for grades...and if work/testing falls short ...give the appropriate grade.
Don't you dare cower or chicken out.
Grades are meaningless unless there are solid metrics behind them.
You are actually cheating the other students if you pass someone who should have been failed.

Keep writing the stuff down and at some point go higher up in the company and present your findings. If that don't work, then seek other employment or hire a lawyer. That's not right how they treat you. This is the 21st century, not the 19th.

Well, some good news; Being an Agnostic/Atheist makes you a bone fide minority for "religious" classification. Something to keep in mind for battling charges of "racism".

Meantime, I think you are doing right by not acknowledging such issues and documenting the facts of infractions and corrective action as objectively as you can.

In your place, I would stay with it, continue doing as you have been and respond appropriately and calmly to any questions or challenges. Don't chase yourself out of there for them. Force them to do that by being reasonable and document the facts of the matter as best you can.

If you are treated unfairly, contact a lawyer. It may not do any harm to introduce yourself to a Civil Rights Attny right away anyway just to establish contact and get good legal guidance when you need it.