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
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.