The best teachers for racialized students are racialized teachers. It’s true.

Numerous theorists, practices, reports (read PDSB’s?) have shown this.

So while we don’t expect white teachers in predominantly racialized schools to quit en masse — we do expect them to help 1/4

We expect white teachers to repair the harms that took place during desegregation of schools when majority of Black teachers and admin were fired as whites shut down Black schools. Preferential hiring now is a start toward reparations for years of white supremacy in Edu sys. 2/4

While we’re at it —support&hire all Indigenous teachers who want to work in our school systems. Keep in mind that Canadian public schools and populations have been killing & pushing out Indigenous children. Indeed we also need to publicly fund alternatives to colonial schools
3/4

Finally— we must hire teachers that reflect the majority “South Asian” student population in Peel. Our students are suffering from teachers’ Racism, Islamophobia, Xenophobia. They deserve teachers who understand them & have lived it & can help them navigate their world better. /4

Antiracist BIPOC who say “but I don’t want to be the minority hire”.

I feel you.

But people are hired because they are the “majority hire”- palatable & complacent in the system
(inc some BIPOC but most white people)

Demographics must shift for real change to take place.

In conclusion:

Hire Black, Indigenous and South Asian teachers in Peel.

Start there in prioritizing so our students have teachers to look up to and learn from.

If we want to be anti-racist and culturally relevant —we need people who know what they’re talking about.