Young black men report racism, lowered expectations in Peel classrooms

Young black men say they regularly experience bias and racism at school, according to a new report from the Peel District School Board. 

The report, called "We Rise Together," is in part a response to a United Way study released last year that showed young black men feel unwanted and socially isolated in their communities. 

I'm hoping that we'll create an environment where all students have that chance to be successful.- Suzanne Nurse, Peel District School Board Trustee

"Because the expectations are not high for them ... they don't feel that they can be successful," Poleen Grewal, superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Peel District School Board, said in an interview on CBC's Metro Morning.  

Black students say teachers, peers are afraid of them

A focus group of 87 black male high school students featured in the report said they feel many non-black students are afraid of them, and avoid them in the hallways.

They also said they feel some teachers expect them to "mess up" based on the colour of their skin, and that they favour non-black students in the classroom. 

In addition, students said they don't see themselves reflected in the curriculum, or the staff.

Grewal said the board hopes to address all of those concerns, with plans to conduct a workplace census in the next couple of weeks to identify the makeup of its staff and ensure the community is being reflected in its hiring practices. It also has plans to implement mandatory bias and anti-racism training for teachers and other staff.

"Changing the mindset of a society doesn't happen overnight," said Grewal. "We need to start looking at our own biases, our own stereotypes, looking at our power and privilege to see how that plays out in education." 

"I think it's going to take some time." 

Teachers pushing black students toward applied courses

Suzanne Nurse, a trustee for the Peel District School Board with a son in Grade 10, says she wasn't surprised by the results of the report and that parents often come to her with concerns.

"They feel their children are more encouraged to go into the applied courses at high school, versus the academic ones," Nurse said. 

"It's a hindrance to their academic success. If you start putting limits on them, if you start lowering the expectations for students, then it's very difficult for them to come out of there thinking they can actually achieve what they set out to achieve."

Racism not limited to the classroom

Nurse said her own son has had positive experiences in the classroom, but that she's concerned by some interactions with his peers. 

"Sometimes students go out for lunch and some students have told him, 'Well, I know you're going to Popeyes because you guys like fried chicken'," Nurse said. 

"He's a good kid so he's able to laugh some of these things off, after a while." 

Nurse said she's happy to see how thoroughly the report from the school board addresses black students' concerns, and feels that Peel has the chance to lead the way for more inclusive schools. 

"I'm hoping that we'll create an environment where all students have that chance to be successful," Nurse said. 

The report will go to committee on Thursday, with plans for community consultation later this year.