How it feels to be a Traveller — a school student explains
I am a young Traveller girl at the age of 13 who lives in Northolt. Sometimes Traveller children don't go to school. I would like to tell you why that is.
I just wanted to share how it feels to be a Traveller who goes to school and how difficult that it is for me. Maybe it is different in some schools but, for me, this is how it is.
I don't have many friends in school because they don't want one of their friends to be a Traveller so, when I am in school, I feel isolated from my class and I can always hear them talking about me behind my back and calling me a 'pikey'.
Most of my teachers won't have time for me. They think I am just wasting their time because all the other Travellers that have been to my school have never stuck it out as it is so lonesome.
I don't think they know how hard it is when you are being called names every day and getting abused.
At other times, when there are parties or when some of the girls in my class are going to the pictures, I don't get invited because I am a Traveller. At break and at lunchtime, I am always looking over my shoulder because I am scared in case anyone comes up and hits me or shouts abuse at me.
So, the next time you might wonder why Travellers never stay in school or come to school, that's why!
People say that Black, Asian and other ethnic groups suffer a lot of racism. What about Travellers? Please, the next time you see a Traveller, don't shout abuse. Just remember what Travellers have to go through every day and ask: would you like it to happen to you?
Source: an essay by a student at a high school in Ealing, 2005
Published: 15 March 2006
