Grand Erie school board shares anti-racism video series

A compelling series of anti-racism videos created as an internal tool for Grand Erie District School Board staff is being shared with the public.

The series of five videos shows students, school board staff and families talking candidly about their personal experiences with racism, microaggression, prejudice and bias, and “systematic barriers to inclusion and belonging.”

“The conversations in this series of videos are necessary, often uncomfortable, and are meant to directly confront our beliefs and biases,” said JoAnna Roberto, director of education.

“They are also intended to be a springboard to action – to connect our hearts and minds as we work together to foster equity and inclusion in our schools. In that regard, they have the potential to be a powerful, transformative tool for professional development.”

Created last year through a process led by the school board’s Safe and Inclusive Schools team, participants reflect on their negative school experiences.

“Denial isn’t going to fix anything,” said Sara Paterson, a 17-year-old student in a video called We All Belong. “You can’t think nothing is happening. You can’t be oblivious to it, so you might as well pay attention, listen and talk to your students about it.”

Thirteen-year-old Prabhsidak Singh talks about feeling excluded by his classmates.

“I think people didn’t want to play with me because of my color and maybe because I ate different foods than them or something.”

In another video, called Learn My Name, Prabhsidak explains the meaning of his name – to have patience in God.

“My teacher thought it was too hard to say my name, so she shortened it to just Prab, which has no meaning,” he said.

Peter Ashe, Safe and Inclusive Schools principal leader, said it’s never appropriate to change someone’s name.

“It’s my job to continue to get that right. We continue to learn and do better.”

In a video called We Want to be Safe, superintendent of education Liana Thompson talks about growing up in a small town as the only black kids.

“You didn’t see yourself represented at all in a positive way,” said Thompson. “The only thing we learned about in Black History was slavery. You were always beaten and down-trodden. You felt ashamed when you were listening to those lessons.

“We need to have people like me, who felt that way, teaching our kids who can bring a different slant to those stories.”

In a video called Learn the Language, an emotional Atala Andratis, who is an equity coach with the school board, recalls the trauma of being a newcomer student with very limited English at a Norfolk school 30 years ago.

“You feel inferior,” said Andratis. “You are walking through the doors with a deficit. We are now more equipped as educators to help newcomers.”

Students talk about minor ways to make change. Prabhsidak suggests teachers say “hi” once a week in the first language of their students.

Carmelli Dao, 17, said her school had always done a Twelve Days of Christmas exercise.

“This year we’re doing Ten Days of Holidays instead. It’s about trying to recognize there is more to December than just Christmas. Doing stuff as small as that really helps.”

Susan Gibson, chair of the board of trustees, said the videos “set the stage for those deeper conversations that can challenge and dismantle attitudes and practices that exist in institutions like school boards.”

The video series is part of larger efforts in Grand Erie, which last year launched an equity advisory group and has since released an equity action plan.

The videos can be viewed at www.granderie.ca/board/programsandlearning/safe-schools/anti-racism-project