The school has apologised to past and present students
A review into allegations of racism at St Columba’s College in Dublin has recommended immediate anti-racism training for all staff and students, and that the ‘n’ word should be banned from use in the classroom “in all circumstances”, as well as everywhere else, RTE News reports.
The review was commissioned by the school after former students, led by 21-year-old Seyilogo Braithwaite, made serious allegations of racist behaviour at St Columba’s.
The school has apologised to past and present students “who experienced racism during their time in the college”.
The 13-page review, containing many recommendations, says the college should make it policy that there is no toleration of racial “banter”.
It says the college should now enter into dialogue with black students relating to the hair code and reach an agreed position based on an understanding of the cultural importance of hair to black identity.
Lawyer and mediator Caroline Preston, who carried out the review, writes that the stories told to her by the black students to whom she spoke “were often painful”.
Ms Preston said: “I am humbled by many of them. I also appreciate that I was given only a glimpse of how difficult it must be to navigate life as a black person in a predominantly white context.”
She said the allegations of racism amounted “in the main to casual remarks that were not intended to offend”, but that they had led to “real hurt”.
Ms Preston added: “Taken collectively however they amount to microaggressions that had a corrosive effect on those on the receiving end.
“The black students to whom I spoke, although they unanimously spoke highly of their teachers, all of them referred to systemic racism, institutional racism or aversive racism being prevalent in the college.”
On staff at the school, she found that all were deeply committed to the students they teach, and worked “with admirable devotion”.
She said they had “no intention” of offending black students in the past “and had no understanding that they had”.
“Nevertheless they are also determined to embrace the 44 necessary steps to ensure that the black students within their care will feel supported and included in the college,” she found.
Ms Preston has also recommended training in cultural sensitivity, and that a member of staff be appointed to lead a team to challenge the “colonial perspective of the curriculum”.
She also recommends “constant vigilance” by staff to protect those who may still be vulnerable to racial bullying.
She wrote: “On no occasion should teachers excuse racially problematic behaviour by students (or indulge in it themselves) on the grounds that it is joking or banter.”
Other recommendations include the introduction of a standalone policy on racial bullying which would highlight its “pernicious nature”.
“Difficult and uncomfortable conversations will have to be had”, Ms Preston concludes, “so that teachers and students become racially aware”.
“That awareness will lead to greater vigilance in preventing racial bullying; a stronger focus on the experience of the black child and help the college to avoid the microaggressions that collectively create an atmosphere that is called systemic racism.”
St Columba’s College is a fee-charging school in south county Dublin.
In a letter to parents, principal Mark Boobbyer apologised “to all pupils, both past and present, who experienced racism during their time in the college”.
He said he welcomed “the honest approach” of the independent review and said St Columba’s would “seek to learn from the past and to improve our responses and procedures”.
He said he wanted to apologise to the two former pupils who first brought the issue to the school’s attention and to thank them for their courage.
Mr Boobbyer added: “Their actions have led us to do a lot of soul-searching and ensured that we will learn from the past, in order to build a more inclusive school for all our students in the future'”
The student who first made allegations of racism against the college has welcomed the findings of the review.
Seyilogo Braithwaite, who is from Nigeria, told RTÉ News she was very pleased and glad. She said suggestions for change made by black students had been taken on board and that the proposed changes were “feasible”.
Ms Braithwaite said it had been very difficult to raise her allegations initially.
“I was crying every day, and I was scared,” she said. But now she says she is proud of what she did.
She added: “I am very glad for future students to not have to feel like they are less than anyone else.”
Courtesy – RTE News
Friday, 21 Aug 2020 16:24
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