Online reporting tool formed by parents of black children track racism in Ontario schools

BY PAUL JUNOR

In many ways, the newly formed black advocacy groups, Parents of Black Children (PoBC) have been active in fighting against anti-black racism. PoBC has developed a school-racism reporting tool. This positive news was reported at a virtual news conference on March 2^nd, 2021.

Kearie Daniel, a parent of two, told CBC News  “Despite years of reports, committees and recommendations, school boards are saying that they are unable to properly track incidents of anti-black racism. This is unacceptable so we are going to do it for them.” She notes that the onus is on the parents who are experiencing racism to provide proof, and without an adequate reporting mechanism this is difficult to do.

In addition, many educators remained silent because they are fearful of the repercussions if they were to openly report about racism. She notes that this enables school boards, “To feign innocence and do nothing more to fight against anti-black racism rather than to put nice-sounding statements in their websites.

This only captures the racism that parents know about. It doesn’t capture the racist incidents that educators may see in their colleagues’ classroom and never report. It doesn’t cover the racist comments (said) in the teachers’ lounge or over email.”

Charlene Grant, one of the founding members of PoBC told CBC News that anecdotal stories from four families about their experiences of anti-black racism had a profound effect on her. She states, “I don’t forget those stories. I don’t forget those names. They stay with me. I see myself. I see my children in those phone calls and those intakes that come in.”

She observes that the Ontario government has not acted promptly despite repeated calls for random equity audits of boards. She states, “If there’s one thing I personally have learned throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that policies and procedures can go out the door and things can happen very quickly when governments are motivated to do it. But our black student lives are in danger and have been in danger for a very long time. It’s hurtful and harmful and traumatizing.”

Another member, Claudette Rutherford, who teaches for YRDSB is aware of the risks involved in speaking out. She states, “Even me coming here now, I understand the risks that it puts me in, but I feel like I don’t have a choice anymore. That is what courage looks like. Being afraid and still doing it.”

CBC News reported that Caitlin Clark, spokesperson for Ontario Minister of Education notes that all boards are required to collect disaggregated race-based data. She states, “The Government will ensure school boards collect and publicize this data to create accountability, transparency and action to fix long-standing systemic barriers that hold back black and other racialized children in Ontario.”

Global News reported on February 2^nd, 2021 that many school boards in the Greater Toronto/Hamilton Area have no mechanisms in place to track reports of racism in classrooms.

PoBC reported that as of March 4^th, 2021 there have been over eighty education workers from Ontario who have taken advantage of this anonymous reporting tool. PoBC acknowledged that this shows the prevalence and persistence of anti-black racism in schools in Ontario. It states, “Now more than ever, we stand firm in our commitment to make Ontario safe for the black community.”