Are You A "Mutt"?
By julito
@antonbunot (11146)
Calgary, Alberta
October 24, 2016 12:41pm CST
To those who do not know what a “Mutt” is, it is a slang for bi-racial person. A Mutt is actually a mixed-breed dog.
According to the news a middle-school white female teacher asked her 11-year-old student if he’s a Mutt because of his curly hair. And when the student asked what is a Mutt, some of his classmates started laughing.
At home the young student told his parents that his teacher asked him if he’s a Mutt. The parents were outraged. According to them the teacher is a racist.
Do you think the school should suspend or even fire the teacher?
10 people like this
12 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Oct 16
A teacher asked my daughter if she was part Asian (her first name is Japanese, but her last name is obviously a "Western" name) - and of course she looks "part Asian". It was a natural question - nothing wrong with asking. Perhaps the above teacher was thinking the same, but she sure didn't use her head by using that term. Even though people jokingly say "mutt", it is derogatory . . . and it was inappropriate of the teacher to use it that way - to a child especially.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
24 Oct 16
@antonbunot .. If it is derogatory enough then law should make it an offense. Till when law does not make it as offense using that word, I could not throw the child out.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Oct 16
You hit the right word, @much2say . . Inappropriate! You know I am thinking that the teacher is either a bit stupid or just making fun of bi-racial kids. Here in Canada I don't say Indians or natives . . I use the word aboriginal, which I believe is the most appropriate word to describe them. I once asked a lady co-worker if she was Asian like me. She giggled and replied that lots of people mistook her as Asian. She said - "I am aboriginal." 
3 people like this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
24 Oct 16
No...the teacher gets a warning and is allowed to continue till any other racial comment or behavior. The reason is, if we recruit another person we don't know what he or she is feeling. He or she could be even worse than this person and smart enough to cover his or her tracks. At least, this one was innocent. And I hope I am a mutt...I am angling at Prince Charles wealth..if I can trace my lineage there, I might get some share..kinda.
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Oct 16
@vandana7 But the white female teacher is in her 40's . . . she should know better. She is a racist! She should be suspended or even fired! Anyway, mutts are beautiful kids . . Just look at my grandson (half Italian-half Filipino)
4 people like this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
24 Oct 16
@antonbunot .. It was not meant as an offense because it can be any race, what is wrong with that ...racist would be discriminating based on it. 40's or not...people can talk innocently...and not be harboring any anti racial feeling.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Oct 16
@vandana7 It is an offense using that slang word to a boy. Mutt is actually a mixed-breed dog. The appropriate question should be - "Is your dad an African American and your mom a white American?" And the person who asked the question is a TEACHER not an uneducated tramp.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
25 Oct 16
@antonbunot Sorry, do not agree with you on this one.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
26 Oct 16
@marlina It's okay if you don't agree . . I respect what you think.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Oct 16
@marlina . . Hmmm, you remind me of Trump re political correctness . . . 
. . She should be at least reprimanded, asked to apologise, or even suspended with pay.
. . She should be at least reprimanded, asked to apologise, or even suspended with pay.1 person likes this
@sallypup (69157)
• Centralia, Washington
25 Oct 16
I'm not sure I would fire the teacher but I would keep a close eye on the person. Is she making other not nurturing statements and doing other behavior that could cause the students to laugh and bully the other students?? She needs a talking to. I wonder what her side of the story is? Even Italians have curly hair!
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Oct 16
@sallypup . . That is the best thing for her to say!
. . That is the best thing for her to say!1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Oct 16
@sallypup . . I think her side of the story is - - she would say - "I was just kidding!"
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69157)
• Centralia, Washington
25 Oct 16
@antonbunot That statement "I was just kidding!" is something the world needs less of. Its an excuse for bad behavior. There are jokes and then there is meanness that harms deeply.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
24 Oct 16
I used to have a friend that I called mutt because he liked a character called that. His mom got very mad at me for it. It is not the correct term for a mixed person, but I do not count it as racist, UNLESS how it is said. If it is not a general question, it is accusing someone of being a mutt, then it is really offensive, but if it is just a question out of curiosity then it should be forgiven. It was just a mix up of words.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Oct 16
@DesirousDreamer Wrong choice of word by a teacher . . . the boy, I am sure, got humiliated because his classmates laughed. I believe that was the reason his parents got outraged. O, you are talking about Mutt and Jeff - the cartoon, I guess.
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Oct 16
@DesirousDreamer Well, at least she should be reprimanded and suspended.
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
26 Oct 16
@antonbunot I don't seen a need of suspension unless she has done this multiple times. It is no different than thinking a fat lady is pregnant or calling a man a woman. It is a slip of the tongue.
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
24 Oct 16
My grand daughter is bi-racial and let me tell you that if any teacher ever called her a "mutt" I would be asking that they get fired! That is racist and unacceptable. It just sickens me!
2 people like this
@hora_fugit (5859)
• India
24 Oct 16
@antonbunot If I take offense to a word used by others, I am not going to use that in or for my inner circle as well. Unacceptable is unacceptable. No double standards...
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Oct 16
@hora_fugit My point here is she is a TEACHER! She is not one of those uneducated street people. She should be at least suspended and apologise to the family of the boy.
3 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Oct 16
@Happy2BeMe . . There you go! I am not alone! I would do the same. Anyway, look at how a female Mutt looks like! Here is my granddaughter. She is half-Filipino-half-Canadia/Italian. O, I wish our friend, @vandana7, read your comment.
2 people like this
@hora_fugit (5859)
• India
24 Oct 16
All I knew was that mutt is a dog.... knew not that it has to be mixed breed.
Am I mistaken to think that there's just too much emphasis on "white female teacher" here? If there is, some hidden suggestions are being made.
The teacher might be racist, might not be. But shouldn't be there anymore. Children deserve better.
1 person likes this
@hora_fugit (5859)
• India
24 Oct 16
@antonbunot Yes, such teachers are not good for children. Bad influence.
Though, she could rectify it.... on second thoughts.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Oct 16
She may not be a racist . . but she may have made fun of the kid for being half black/half white. Calling the kid mutt was funny to his classmates. Being laughed at was humiliating to the boy.
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Oct 16
@hora_fugit She should apologise to the parents and the boy in front of the boy's classmates who laughed . . and she should tell her students that she made a mistake.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Oct 16
@SIMPLYD This is the best response! You took pity of the teacher first; but in the end you yelled . . "How dare . . . !"
@epiffanie (11325)
• Australia
31 Oct 16
I would never ask anyone that unless the topic of discussion is about race ... plus, no everyone know that mutt can also be used on people .
Here in Australia, cross bred dogs are called mongrel ... But if you call a bi-racial person a mongrel, it's derogatory....
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Oct 16
@jaboUK Reprimanded and suspended but with pay!
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
24 Oct 16
No, she's just curious or just wanted to know about the child more. It is not a racist remark.
1 person likes this
