Is It Acceptable To Call A Child By The Hair Colour?

[OldChestNuts]

A friend's child just returned from a school residential trip. The children spend this week at a residential place with outdoor activities etc. One of the activities provider called my friend's child by the hair colour when he call other children by their names. Obviously the child is upset and told the parent when returned home.
I don't think this is acceptable to call any one by their hair colour. What do posters think?
Bear in mind the child is ethnic minority background. So the child as the parent is the person behavior being racist.
I personally don't think it is a racist thing, but I would not call someone like that especially people have name to refer to.

[Ringlet]

No, I don't think it is acceptable to call a child by their hair colour.
Each child is unique and has their own name, by which they should always be identified.
I have heard children (and adults) called Blondie, Ginger, Copper, Streaky, Curly, and the worst of the lot, with definite racist overtones, Darky.
The child's parents should take issue with the school and complain about that particular activities helper.

[Canary42]

Tell me about it. As an identical twin, at school those teachers (most of them) too lazy to take the trouble to differentiate used the same name for both of us, often suffixing it by 1 or 2. The struggle to gain unique self-identity was made even harder by this laziness.

I am not a number ! ! ! ! ! !

Children are given names for a purpose, and they should normally be used, not some silly made-up nickname referring to the child's appearance. We've managed to outlaw "Spastic", but we've still a long way to go.

[barry1010]

What exactly did this person call the child?

[emmie]

that's what i was wondering ^^

[emmie]

the child could have dark hair, what on earth did he call the child.

[DTCwordfan]

My cousin was at the same prep school as me and we were referred to by our hair colour 'Come here, X Red and X White' - think we survived it.....

[emmie]

not if the child has black hair, the name should suffice.

[Old_Geezer]

Without more detail it's difficult to say if you are overreacting to something irrelevant or talking about something unacceptable. It seems a little disrespectful if used habitually but not worth even noticing if someone forgot the name and needed to identify an individual. In any case, there's a lot worse in the world to be concerned about other than being identified like that.

[Spicerack]

I think it's a sign of affection.
Mind you, don't know what he called him yet.

[douglas9401]

A line should be drawn, somewhere around 'Oi ginger pubes!'.

[calmck]

Can't comment until I know what the colour was but in principal no

[LadyCG]

No, it's not acceptable. I didn't name my son by his name so someone could say, "Oi, skinny boy."

[10ClarionSt]

No problem. Ginge? Blondie? Has anyone heard those before?

[tiggerblue10]

Hard to have an opinion when we don't know what the hair colour is and if it was in reference to their hair. Ginger, blondie, auburn, light brown, mousy, dark brown, black.....did they said 'hair' after naming a colour?

[sandyRoe]

It's not acceptable for children or adults. You can't imagine how hurtful it can be when you hear someone shout, 'Hey baldy', and know it's directed at you.

[barry1010]

I used to be called 'Knobby' - like many people with the surname Clarke. My mate was 'Hovis' (surname Brown), another 'Bob' (Plumb). I miss those days, sometimes.

[Spicerack]

I can imagine, sandy. Children can be so cruel to each other. sob

[bednobs]

Why is this in the law section? If you are
asking about the legalities of it then yes, everyone is over reacting. Being racist per se isn't against the law yet.
There's nothing wrong with speaking to the school which would elicit an apology very quickly I'm sure but as for doing something in law about it, the child and its parents should get over it

[OldChestNuts]

@bednobs, a very interesting info.
But have a looka this:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/crime-law/racism-racial-bullying/

[OldChestNuts]

The child in question is now being called that by his school class.