Following an argument at school, a girl isolates herself from her friends. Colleagues discuss why we should not make assumptions about people’s behaviour when considering if someone is at risk of radicalisation.
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Penny was seen having a stand-up argument in the college canteen with her normally close group of friends who are mainly Asian girls and has since shunned all her non-white friends.
She is normally a friendly girl, and this is uncharacteristic of her. Is this racist behaviour? Should I be concerned enough to make a referral?”
It’s very good that there is someone in this college who knows the girls well enough to observe the changing dynamics in friendship groups.
For any college or school who wants to be a safe organisation, it’s very important to have, whether it’s dinner ladies or teachers, people who are aware of what goes on in the group of young people.
So, I am pleased that this sort of dynamic is being observed. But I would say we need a lot more context. We know that in colleges there can be groups of friends that go together. So, if you’ve fallen out with that group you will maybe not talk to anybody in that group.
And is this: “she shunned her non-white friends.” What for three days or for three months?
And has that been accompanied by any negative attitudes or statements or behaviours of racism?
What I would say here is there’s nothing to suggest that Penny is racist because until there has been this argument she has been interacting in a very friendly way with people of all cultures and backgrounds.
It would be a strange thing if at her age she suddenly became racist. It can happen of course, but I would say that we should not label Penny as anything. We should just label Penny as, “look she must be unhappy she’s fallen out with her friends.” As adults in her environment we have a responsibility to have a conversation with her.
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