Winnipeg teacher placed on leave after racial slur used in classroom
The Franco-Manitoban School Division says a Winnipeg teacher has been placed on leave after a social media post that appears to show the educator using a racial slur for Black people in the classroom.
The school division says it condemns all forms of racism.
The remark was made by a teacher at College Louis-Riel senior high school Thursdayand a student's response to it was later uploaded on social media.
"The minute you said that word you did not respect us," a student says to a woman in the video. "The minute that word came out of your mouth you did not respect us at all."
Ramatoulaye Cherif, who is on the board of Parents Against Racism, said the organization has spoken with students who were in the classroom. Cherif said the students alleged the teacher used the slur multiple times.
"It feels very derogatory. It feels dehumanizing," Cherif said.
The school's administration posted a video online in French on Saturday in response to what it called tensions caused by the use of inappropriate vocabulary in the classroom.
The school division said supports were sent to the school to help students. Additionally, the school and the division committed to forming advisory groups of students, parents, staff and communities to contribute to an action plan to tackle racism and other challenges.
"Racism, like discrimination or bullying, are not new phenomena. They were part of the landscape of the first humans on Earth," the division said in a news release Tuesday. "What should also be remembered is that these are not phenomena that are the sole responsibility of the school."
Cherif, whose children attend a different school in the division, said the division should be far beyond making commitments to change.
Parents Against Racism was formed following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, which sparked a global movement around racial discrimination. A police officer knelt on the Black man's neck for several minutes, even as Floyd said he couldn't breathe.
At the same time in Winnipeg, Cherif said many former College Louis-Riel students came forward with accounts of racism at the school, including the use of derogatory terms in the classroom by teachers.
Cherif said the board worked with the school at that time and signed an agreement about commitments to change. But, she said, clearly not enough was done.
"The concrete actions were not there," she said. "Because if you really say you are going to do this, and there is a school teacher that is still saying this word, that means you aren't taking the necessary precautions to help avoid it."
Cherif said there needs to be a clear apology.
She said there must also be an audit of teaching materials and lesson plans. She added that teachers should be trained to understand why using these words, in any context, can cause harm to students.
The Parents Against Racism board said in a statement in French that the incident reflects a normalized culture of racism that hurts students' rights to a safe education. It also called for a clear anti-racism policy to protect racialized students, parents and staff.
"There is no excuse for this happening," Cherif said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.