Peel District School Board approves its first ever Anti-Racism Policy

BY PAUL JUNOR

On Wednesday June 22^nd, 2022, the Peel District School Board’s (PDSB) announced its first-ever Anti-Racism Policy. Many Black community members, education advocates, parents, and individuals welcome this positive development. It was a long time coming after years of struggles, battles, community work, depositions, presentations, and advocacy by the Black community in Peel region.

PDSB has been under the microscope for the past two years as attention was focused on how it would fulfil the Ministerial directives that the Ministry of Education mandated. The release of this 25-page document outlines the policy statement, rationale, application and scope, aims, objectives, effective programming, and procedures to support policy implementation, roles and responsibilities, concluding statement, and definition of terms.

The document indicates, “The PDSB enacts this new policy as evidence of the organization racial consciousness to address historical and on-going hurt and harm rendered upon Indigenous and racialized peoples. It intentionally seeks to address anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism which have consistently resulted in disproportionate outcomes for students, staff, and families.” It notes further, “This means the work to address racism will centre the voices, experiences, and wellbeing of those historically and currently marginalized by our system.”

The document was developed within an equity, anti-racism, anti-oppression lens to ensure that the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) is followed. The press release from the PDSB acknowledged that the Anti-Racism Policy was compiled after widespread community consultations with more than 2,000 participants involving collaboration with community, staff, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education for PDSB states, “At the heart of the policy is community voice. To ensure better learning and well-being outcomes for all students and their families, PDSB remains committed in creating an equitable, anti-racist, anti-oppressive and inclusive learning environment. This Anti-Racism Policy establishes on-going accountability and transparency for the board’s leadership-now and in the future.”

Some of the objectives of the policy are:

• Collecting data to inform issues at PDSB this includes bullying, suspensions as well as other issues including engagements, well-being, and school environment.
• Advancing the promotion of cultural safety and inclusive learning for all students with a culturally responsive curriculum.
• Providing intensive training to all those with teaching responsibilities and promoting racially responsive leadership.
• Actively ensuring diversity and inclusion in its hiring, teacher training, promotion, and leadership.
• Having learning materials that reflect diverse student experiences and are racially sensitive.
• Establishing a transparent, complaint resolution process.

There is much hope and expectation that these changes to the PDSB will usher in a new era of success and excellence for all students, especially BIPOC who often fare poorly.

Anyone interested in the Anti-Racism Policy can check website: wwwpeelsschool.org