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Today marks the end of my term as a 2019-2020 @HWDSB Student Trustee.
No, I'm not grateful to have been in this role. In all honesty, it was the most patronizing experience of my life.
I'm beyond grateful to no longer serve as the board's token for student voice & diversity.
No, I'm not grateful to have been in this role. In all honesty, it was the most patronizing experience of my life.
I'm beyond grateful to no longer serve as the board's token for student voice & diversity.
The HWDSB is a disgustingly racist & oppressive institution that serves the interest, success & well-being of white, straight, able-bodied, cis-gender staff & students.
I'm beyond disturbed to have attended HWDSB schools for 14 years - but I'm ready to unlearn & call them out.
I'm beyond disturbed to have attended HWDSB schools for 14 years - but I'm ready to unlearn & call them out.
Enduring racial gaslighting & micro-aggressions throughout my term allowed me to truly understand the HWDSB's oppressive nature.
I'm beyond certain that this will escalate, considering their consistent efforts to actively & deliberately silence, belittle & villianize BIPOC.
I'm beyond certain that this will escalate, considering their consistent efforts to actively & deliberately silence, belittle & villianize BIPOC.
When allegations come forward, institutions like the HWDSB argue that the oppressed should've fought harder or spoken earlier.
I want to be clear about the fact that NO marginalized person should be expected to seek help directly from their oppressor.
This is beyond unsafe.
I want to be clear about the fact that NO marginalized person should be expected to seek help directly from their oppressor.
This is beyond unsafe.
White, colonial, discriminatory institutions like the HWDSB have always operated in a manner that strips marginalized people of their rightful spaces & resources.
When supports for minorites ARE in place, they're extremely illusive & implicitly/systematically oppressive.
When supports for minorites ARE in place, they're extremely illusive & implicitly/systematically oppressive.
Here are *just a few* brief examples of negative experiences I've witnessed/had throughout my term:
- White Trustee using the n-word in reference to Serena Williams
- White Trustee claiming that there is "too much Black leadership" in our extremely anti-Black school board
- White Trustee using the n-word in reference to Serena Williams
- White Trustee claiming that there is "too much Black leadership" in our extremely anti-Black school board
- White Trustee claiming that Arabs/Muslims are evil & that we shouldn't waste our time/breath discussing such hopeless people
- White Trustees/Staff consistently encouraging me (a Brown female) to operate more like my co-Student -Trustee (a white male)
- White Trustees/Staff consistently encouraging me (a Brown female) to operate more like my co-Student -Trustee (a white male)
- White Trustee shaming me (a brown girl) for not wearing a Christmas sweater to a Board meeting
- Being silenced, lectured, called aggressive & told to trust the expertise of white Staff when wanting to discuss an anti-oppressive/anti-racist lens for the Safe Schools Panel
- Being silenced, lectured, called aggressive & told to trust the expertise of white Staff when wanting to discuss an anti-oppressive/anti-racist lens for the Safe Schools Panel
These experiences don't even begin to scratch the surface. I'm also not the only racialized/marginalized person with experiences like this (within the HWDSB & within #OntEd in general)
It's time to expose the HWDSB & the rest of Western education for what it is.
More to come.
It's time to expose the HWDSB & the rest of Western education for what it is.
More to come.
