What to know
- An advocacy group, Parents of Black Children, says two teachers from James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School were suspended after racist messages were allegedly exchanged on Instagram and X using a student-accessible account.
- The Toronto Catholic District School Board confirmed the staff were placed on leave and said it acted swiftly, but CEO Charline Grant argues the response was inadequate and the principal should also be investigated.
- The group says a student reported the incident after screenshots showed one teacher sharing an anti-Black meme and another replying with a racial slur.
- Advocate Shannon Liverpool says transferring the teachers would spread harm, while Grant believes the case should also be reported to Toronto Police as a potential hate incident.
An advocacy group is speaking out after two Toronto Catholic District School Board teachers in North York were suspended for allegedly using racial and discriminatory language on social media.
On social media platforms X and Instagram, Parents of Black Children posted that two teachers, who worked at James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School near Finch Ave. W and Keele St., had spoken to each other on Instagram over Christmas break through the use of the school’s athletic association’s account, a profile that the organization said students had access to.
The organization alleged that one teacher had shared an anti-Black meme, with the other responding “LMAO where are the chicken wings, f**king (N-words) are all the same.” The organization said a student then screenshotted the messages and reported it.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) confirmed to Now Toronto in an email on Friday that the teachers were both placed on leave.
“Matters involving students, particularly allegations of racism and other forms of discrimination, are addressed and investigated immediately,” the TCDSB wrote. “In this case, the Board acted swiftly and in alignment with this approach placed both staff members on leave.”
Parents of Black Children’s CEO Charline Grant told Now Toronto that this wasn’t acceptable, or nearly enough.
“I don’t think it’s adequate. I don’t think it’s enough,” she said. “This happened in December, there’s an investigation going on right now of the two educators. However, the principal was made aware of it and did nothing.”
Grant said she thinks the principal should also be held accountable, and investigated. Additionally, she said she allegedly heard a recording of another educator minimizing student feelings toward the incident when discussing the circumstances with the athletic association.
“The educator [leading that meeting] and the principal being made aware of it [who] didn’t act, should also be out of the school and out of their job, home, suspended and investigated as well,” Grant added.
TCDSB investigation and parent concerns
The Parents of Black Children told Now Toronto the population of the school the teachers worked at was a majority black students, with most of the female Black seniors in the athletic association, whose account was used to share the initial messages.
Parents of the students have shared their concern with the advocacy group following the events.
“We’re hearing from parents that they’re fed up. We’re hearing from parents that they’re asking for accountability. We’re hearing from parents that the children, the students, are nervous,” Grant said. “They’re very scared of retaliation or any form of reprisal… and parents are hearing that some of these educators might be transferred to other schools.”
Grant added that how the school board followed up on the incident was not enough. Her colleague agreed, saying if the teachers were to be transferred to another school, instead of removed from teaching permanently, this cycle won’t end.
“The teachers must be removed, fired, and their licences must be revoked,” said Shannon Liverpool with Parents of Black Children. “Relocation is not an option. It’s not a solution. In fact, it’s even more harmful when they are relocated, because we are only spreading the harm. There’s black students in every single school.”
The TCDSB told Now Toronto in that same email that they have implemented support for students at the school following the incident.
“Supports were put in place and will remain available for students and staff who may have been affected,” they wrote. “Racism and discrimination are unacceptable and inconsistent with the standards of the teaching profession. The Board has taken all possible actions and is unable to comment further at this time.”
Grant disagreed with the board, saying they hadn’t done enough and she hadn’t heard anything about any therapeutic or educational assistance.
Grant added she wants to know more about how the teachers involved are being investigated.
“This racist incident that happened, it’s a blatant attack on black students and their families. It’s the meme that was shared, and the blatant N-word should have been reported to the Hate Crime Unit of Toronto for Toronto Police,” she said. “This under-reporting is why these people get to continue being racist towards our children, and if they’re saying this in this forum, how are they when no one’s watching?”
Grant added the advocacy group will continue to follow the story and provide updates when possible on the Parents of Black Children Instagram. She said her hope is to give the school board a timeline to make sure the two teachers involved, as well as the principal of James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School, are permanently removed.
“When you’re compliant and complacent in the face of racism, that is you showing who you are.”
