STUDENTS WERE stunned by racist graffiti found in school washrooms.
Students at an Etobicoke school learned about racism first hand just as they were celebrating Black History Month.
It was a Black student who discovered one set of racism graffiti that was found in three separate washrooms on the first and second floors of the Etobicoke School of the Arts, on Royal York Road.
Police have been called in and have launched an investigation.
Toronto District School Board (TDSB) officials said the offensive graffiti was found on February 8 and only made public now.
POLICE probe underway into racist graffiti found during Black History Month. Courtesy photos.
School principal Grant Fawthrop described the incidents as ‘upsetting and unacceptable’ in an interview.
Fawthrop said the graffiti was found during rehearsal for a Black History Month assembly this month. More of the disturbing language was found the following morning in another bathroom.
“We take issues like this, which make any member of our community feel unsafe or unwelcome, very seriously,” Fawthrop wrote in a letter that was sent to parents. “Acts of anti-Black racism and all forms of discrimination will not be tolerated.”
He said the school has begun an investigation and is taking “immediate steps” to address the issue.
They are also consulting with TDSB equity advisors and other staff for new ways to address anti-Black racism, as well as to increase student and staff knowledge of anti-Black racism.
BLACK HISTORY month poster 2022
“We are incredibly upset this happened,” Fawthrop told the media. “Please know our school holds the values of social justice, equity, and inclusiveness near and dear to our hearts and will continue to do so every day.”
The racist graffiti comes just days after two North York students “depicted” swastikas and performed a Nazi salute in front of classmates.
This is the third time this week that TDSB schools made headlines relating to racism and discrimination.
Counselling and support has been made available to students, staff and family members.
“We take issues like this, which make any member of our community feel unsafe or unwelcome, very serious,” Fawthrop said. “Acts of anti-Black racism and all forms of discrimination will not be tolerated.”
A former Principal of the school was transferred in 2018 following an online petition by more than 1,200 students after admitting ‘to racial profiling after they compiled a list of all students of colour at the school and passed the list to teachers in order to track “achievement gaps.”