Childminder guilty of racial assault on two year old child - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Strange Famous · 09-17-2005, 01:02 PM

Childminder escapes jail for racial assault on two-year-old

Dunno how I feel about this. Is it not the case, after all, that ignorance is not a defence before the law? Either the woman should be judged mentally incompetent and processed accordingly, or she is responsible for her actions.

It may well the the case the woman was not very intelligent and didnt appreciate the full extent of what she did... but I also think that there is a degree to which you must punish the crime rather than the person. A suspended sentence really does not send a good message in regard to this crime.

Certainly it is appropriate that this person not be allowe dto be in any way involved with the care of children in the future.

Quote:

Martin Wainwright
Friday September 16, 2005
The Guardian

A childminder who crayoned the word "ni**er" on the forehead of a two-year-old girl in her care narrowly escaped jail yesterday after a judge accepted pleas that she was "ignorant rather than evil".
Fay Stockley, 57, was told by the recorder of Derby that she had done a "wicked thing" which most people would consider deserved a prison sentence. But he suspended a six-month term for a year on the grounds that she had not understood the nastiness of what she had done.

Stockley made different excuses during her trial at Derby crown court last month, when a jury found her guilty of aggravated racial assault. She first claimed that the word was a private joke between her and the girl, but then changed her story to say that she had meant to write "Tigger," because the child been playing the character in a game based on AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh.
Stockley, who returned to court for sentencing yesterday, thought up the name-crayoning as a way of entertaining a group of children she was minding at her home in Mickleover, near Derby, last year. She scrawled the first names of the others, who were all white, on their foreheads, but then wrote "ni**er" on the little girl's.

The insult was still visible when the child returned home, and police and social workers were called in. Stockley tried to laugh the incident off when first interviewed by officers, claiming that the girl had "pestered" her to use the word instead of her actual name, which cannot be given for legal reasons.

The recorder, John Aucott, told her: "You abused this girl by demonstrating the clearest hostility to her mixed race status by writing the word ni**er ... You told the police you only wrote the word because she asked you to and that she often referred to herself as the little black bastard. But where did a young girl get that phrase from? This child was brought up in a climate of neglect, hostility and racial abuse, and it is clear that on this occasion when she was in your care you simply continued the abuse."

Stuart Lody, defending, said in mitigation that Stockley had psychological and intellectual problems but would never have wished to upset or insult a child.

"It is all very well for those of us having the benefit of education to look at the world through more modern and educated eyes," he said. "My client is not equipped with education and intellect to understand the ramifications of her behaviour." Stockley was not registered with Ofsted as a childminder but is likely to face a social services ban on looking after children in future.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...ticle_continue

timalkin · 09-17-2005, 03:48 PM

It doesn't look like a crime was committed. Maybe child abuse, but that might be stretching it a bit. This woman certainly shouldn't be watching children, but judging her in a court of law is a little much. Would this be a big deal if a black woman wrote the word "cracker" on a white kid's head? Something tells me "no."

Gilda · 09-17-2005, 06:49 PM

It doesn't seem like something that requires jail time to me, but I think that revoking her liscense to be a childcare provider is certainly warranted. Writing on the kids' foreheads with a crayon was a little strange to begin with, and this was just way over the top, but a crime, or abuse? I think it falls a bit short of that.

Gilda

jorgelito · 09-17-2005, 07:12 PM

It's definitely abuse. Writing a derogatory slur on a child's forehead is most certainly abusive behavior.

Any derogatory slur written on a child is abusive whether it's cracker, spic, faggot, chink, wop, kraut, gook, wetback, n*gger, wombi, paki, mick, jap, nip, kike, heeb, rag, sand-n*gger, frog, porch monkey....

Stiltzkin · 09-17-2005, 08:00 PM

That's racism, whether you'd like to face up to it or not. I think she deserves worse punishment than she got.

Hanabal · 09-17-2005, 08:30 PM

that story is pretty strange, and disturbing. I think she needs help more than anything else

billege · 09-17-2005, 08:48 PM

From one view point: she wrote the label thousands of blacks use on a daily basis, to refer to each other, on the girl's head.

She did in writing, what thousands do verbally each day. Had it been done with intelligence and purpose in mind (with an adult, and willing "canvass"), it could have been a powerful artistic statement. One that someone could use to make a point about blacks-calling-blacks "nigger."

(I don't believe I'm required to put * in place of letters. Either you can discuss the word without only pretending to type it, or you can't. I choose "can."

BTW: I note jorgelito used a * only when replacing letters in the word "nigger," but in none of the other slurs. Not to single him out, but to make my point plainly, that's really stupid, isn't it? As if "nigger" is more offensive than "spic," "chink," "wop," or any of the other slurs listed. I think, if one is on the recieving end, any of those would be pretty offenesive. )

I didn't have to watch "Coach Carter" to realize that slurs are slurs, no matter who is voicing it. Though, in a populist format, the movie did make it plain that "nigger" though applied by blacks to blacks, does not make its use okay.

Back to the post's point though:

Did the woman commit an abusive act? I wouldn't go so far as to call it "abuse," but its certainly far from anything correct. She's said to be a pretty dense lady. Maybe she didn't get the memo passed to most neo-racially sensitive white people that using "nigger" is the: Big Sin, the One Word You Can't Use Beause You're White.

(Don't worry folks, there's still a long list of slurs you can type, and sometimes even say! It's "nigger" you have to put *'s in, because somehow it's soooo evil, it can't even be seen in it's entirety. Also, you're showing just how deeply you empathise with the black american experiance with that *.)

It's certainly not a good word, and it goes pretty high on my personal list of words not to use. But, like I said, you can discuss it, and handle it in print, or you can't.

The lady wrote it on a kid's head. Apparently, that poor kid has heard that, and worse, applied to herself.

It's very sad, and it's very common. I hope that the little girl, and those around her, learn from this. It is just a word, but it's one that embodies all of America's guilt, shame, hate, rage, when it comes to our past sins of slavery. Sins we've never really acknowledged, or as a nation, apologized for. I hope the woman who wrote it somehow is educated to understand why "nigger" embodies all that; and, why it goes in the: "oh my god was that a stupid, insensative, just plain wrong, thing to do" catagory.

Demeter · 09-17-2005, 09:31 PM

The fact she would write anything on a child's head is wrong. The fact that she used a racial slur is unforgiving. Her plea of ignorance in the whole matter is a falllacy.

Ustwo · 09-17-2005, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiltzkin

That's racism, whether you'd like to face up to it or not. I think she deserves worse punishment than she got.

Since when does being a racist = jail time?

If she had written 'flower' instead would it be jail time? The same 'harm' was done.

The woman obviously shouldn't be taking care of children, but lets not bring the thought police into it.

Also the kid is 2 years old, there won't be any psychological harm done.

Strange Famous · 09-17-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timalkin

It doesn't look like a crime was committed. Maybe child abuse, but that might be stretching it a bit. This woman certainly shouldn't be watching children, but judging her in a court of law is a little much. Would this be a big deal if a black woman wrote the word "cracker" on a white kid's head? Something tells me "no."

child abuse is a crime in the UK.

I would also disagree with the person who posted that racial abuse would not be pyschologically damaging to a child that is only two.

In terms of racism not being a crime - the crime in question isnt that the woman uses offensive racial slurs - it is that she is racially abusing a 2 year old child left in her care.

vautrain · 09-18-2005, 07:14 AM

Writing a racial slur on the girl's forehead was assault, aggravated by the age of the victim. Child abuse, indeed.

bad jane · 09-18-2005, 07:50 AM

i agree it's wrong, but jail time? no. i'm with gilda, she shouldn't be licensed to care for kids (though she wasn't anyway).

genuinegirly · 09-18-2005, 08:00 AM

Wow... that's pretty messed up and rediculous. Why would an adult write on someone's head in crayon anyhow? I just don't get it.

krwlz · 09-18-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genuinegirly

Wow... that's pretty messed up and rediculous. Why would an adult write on someone's head in crayon anyhow? I just don't get it.

I think perhaps rather then argueing about her punishment, and the use of the word nigger in todays society, genuinegirly hit the real point.

And I can't imagine why either, it is something that is incomprehensible to me.

To continue the current direction of the thread, I really don't think jail time is going to do anything toward making this woman understand why that act was wrong. The mere fact that she did it means she is seriously missing something from her list of right and wrong. My guess is if she was to go to jail, she would come out thinking her actions still not wrong, but more that actions that result in her getting caught is the issue to avoid.

Just my two cents. I believe anyone can be redeemed, but it has to come from inside, you cant force it down their throats along with prison food.

09-17-2005, 03:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
timalkin Addict Location: watching from the treeline	It doesn't look like a crime was committed. Maybe child abuse, but that might be stretching it a bit. This woman certainly shouldn't be watching children, but judging her in a court of law is a little much. Would this be a big deal if a black woman wrote the word "cracker" on a white kid's head? Something tells me "no." __________________ Trinity: "What do you need?" Neo: "Guns. Lots of guns." -The Matrix

09-17-2005, 06:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	It doesn't seem like something that requires jail time to me, but I think that revoking her liscense to be a childcare provider is certainly warranted. Writing on the kids' foreheads with a crayon was a little strange to begin with, and this was just way over the top, but a crime, or abuse? I think it falls a bit short of that. Gilda __________________ I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert

09-17-2005, 08:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hanabal Insane Location: Auckland	that story is pretty strange, and disturbing. I think she needs help more than anything else __________________ I am Hanabal, Phear my elephants

09-17-2005, 08:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
billege Watcher Location: Ohio	From one view point: she wrote the label thousands of blacks use on a daily basis, to refer to each other, on the girl's head. She did in writing, what thousands do verbally each day. Had it been done with intelligence and purpose in mind (with an adult, and willing "canvass"), it could have been a powerful artistic statement. One that someone could use to make a point about blacks-calling-blacks "nigger." (I don't believe I'm required to put * in place of letters. Either you can discuss the word without only pretending to type it, or you can't. I choose "can." BTW: I note jorgelito used a * only when replacing letters in the word "nigger," but in none of the other slurs. Not to single him out, but to make my point plainly, that's really stupid, isn't it? As if "nigger" is more offensive than "spic," "chink," "wop," or any of the other slurs listed. I think, if one is on the recieving end, any of those would be pretty offenesive. ) I didn't have to watch "Coach Carter" to realize that slurs are slurs, no matter who is voicing it. Though, in a populist format, the movie did make it plain that "nigger" though applied by blacks to blacks, does not make its use okay. Back to the post's point though: Did the woman commit an abusive act? I wouldn't go so far as to call it "abuse," but its certainly far from anything correct. She's said to be a pretty dense lady. Maybe she didn't get the memo passed to most neo-racially sensitive white people that using "nigger" is the: Big Sin, the One Word You Can't Use Beause You're White. (Don't worry folks, there's still a long list of slurs you can type, and sometimes even say! It's "nigger" you have to put 's in, because somehow it's soooo evil, it can't even be seen in it's entirety. Also, you're showing just how deeply you empathise with the black american experiance with that .) It's certainly not a good word, and it goes pretty high on my personal list of words not to use. But, like I said, you can discuss it, and handle it in print, or you can't. The lady wrote it on a kid's head. Apparently, that poor kid has heard that, and worse, applied to herself. It's very sad, and it's very common. I hope that the little girl, and those around her, learn from this. It is just a word, but it's one that embodies all of America's guilt, shame, hate, rage, when it comes to our past sins of slavery. Sins we've never really acknowledged, or as a nation, apologized for. I hope the woman who wrote it somehow is educated to understand why "nigger" embodies all that; and, why it goes in the: "oh my god was that a stupid, insensative, just plain wrong, thing to do" catagory. __________________ I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."

09-17-2005, 09:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
Demeter Psycho	The fact she would write anything on a child's head is wrong. The fact that she used a racial slur is unforgiving. Her plea of ignorance in the whole matter is a falllacy. __________________ I am not bound to please thee with my answers. William Shakespeare

09-17-2005, 07:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	It's definitely abuse. Writing a derogatory slur on a child's forehead is most certainly abusive behavior. Any derogatory slur written on a child is abusive whether it's cracker, spic, faggot, chink, wop, kraut, gook, wetback, ngger, wombi, paki, mick, jap, nip, kike, heeb, rag, sand-ngger, frog, porch monkey....

09-17-2005, 08:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Stiltzkin Junkie	That's racism, whether you'd like to face up to it or not. I think she deserves worse punishment than she got.

09-18-2005, 07:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
vautrain Crazy	Writing a racial slur on the girl's forehead was assault, aggravated by the age of the victim. Child abuse, indeed.

09-18-2005, 07:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
bad jane Insane	i agree it's wrong, but jail time? no. i'm with gilda, she shouldn't be licensed to care for kids (though she wasn't anyway).

09-18-2005, 08:00 AM	#13 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Wow... that's pretty messed up and rediculous. Why would an adult write on someone's head in crayon anyhow? I just don't get it. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy