Toronto teacher accused of making racist remark to black student
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is investigating a disturbing comment allegedly made by a substitute teacher at a Scarborough elementary school last week.
Abigail Francis, whose son attends sixth grade at Norman Cook Public School, says 11-year-old Isaiah came home upset last Tuesday after he was asked to do a poetry assignment titled All the Places We Love. “Isaiah wanted clarity on the question and the teacher responded, ‘It’s like home sweet home, or for you, in a dark alleyway like a crackhead,’ ” claims Francis.
She believes the comment was racially motivated, given that her son is one of only two black students in the class. She says after the incident, another student who overheard the interaction approached Isaiah. “He spoke out to say it was racist, and he said, ‘Isaiah, if I had gone up there, he wouldn’t have said anything because I’m white. And you shouldn’t take that.’ “
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is investigating a disturbing comment allegedly made by a substitute teacher at a Scarborough elementary school last week. Abigail Francis, whose son attends sixth grade at Norman Cook Public School, says 11-year-old Isaiah came home upset last Tuesday after he was asked to do a poetry assignment titled All the Places We Love. “Isaiah wanted clarity on the question and the teacher responded, ‘It’s like home sweet home, or for you, in a dark alleyway like a crackhead,’ ” claims Francis. She believes the comment was racially motivated, given that her son is one of only two black students in the class. She says after the incident, another student who overheard the interaction approached Isaiah. “He spoke out to say it was racist, and he said, ‘Isaiah, if I had gone up there, he wouldn’t have said anything because I’m white. And you shouldn’t take that.’ “