I am increasingly dismayed at some of my colleagues’ comments concerning our special needs students. I have worked with students with disabilities for a number of years and can find nothing humorous in their appearance or manners. I have taken it up informally with some colleagues but I do not believe their apologies are sincere. Working with some of these students can be exhausting but their humour is inappropriate .

Whatever we feel, we have got to watch what we say. I have written against some of absurd instances where harmless slips have led to resignations, but distasteful comments about students are not in this category. If it happens again, take up the matter formally.