Student Incidents Involving Racism and Discrimination

School administrators and staff have a professional, moral and legal obligation to create equitable, safe, respectful, and inclusive spaces for all students, parents/guardians, and staff. The guidelines below will help ensure that the rights and responsibilities of all parties are upheld when dealing with incidents of racism and discrimination in our schools.

Students and families are encourages to report incidents of racism or discrimination to a caring adult in their school.

Students: How to Report an Incident of Racism or Discrimination

  • Report what you have seen, heard, or experienced to a caring adult in the school.
  • All incidents of racism and discrimination should also be reported to the office.
  • Tell an adult at home about what has happened and talk about how you are feeling.
  • Students and parents/guardians may also wish to report incidents online through our Safe and Accepting Schools Report It system.
  • Work together with the school to resolve and restore the situation.

Responding to Student Incidents Involving Racism and Discrimination

Below are the steps staff will take when responding to incidents involving racism and discrimination in our schools.

  • Whenever possible, intervene immediately to stop the discriminatory act, and acknowledge what was said or done was inappropriate — we are teaching students that certain language and actions are unacceptable in our schools.
  • Respond empathetically and validate the student’s experience and feelings (e.g., anger, hurt) – this will go a long way in de-escalating a potentially explosive situation.
  • If possible, name the behaviour or discriminatory act (e.g., “You just put someone down based on perceived (sex, race/ethnicity, age, etc.).
  • Choose your words carefully and focus on the act not the person (e.g., the comment is racist, as opposed to you are racist).
  • Explain why the behaviour is hurtful and prohibited (e.g., “At this school, we respect everyone and are responsible for the impact of our words/behaviours.”).
  • Ensure that the dignity of all involved is made a priority (e.g., students directly involved, witnesses).
  • All incidents of racism and discrimination must be reported to the office.

  • Engage in courageous conversations to validate and understand what is happening, the impact on those involved and the opportunities for learning.
  • All staff are responsible for supporting any individual that has been affected by or witnessed an incident of discrimination.
  • Students may prefer to speak to a trusted adult in the school for guidance and support — parents/guardians may also be called as part of the process.
  • Support the individual(s) by finding a safe place and talking with them about how you can support their well-being (e.g., allow the student to express their true feelings without worrying about reprisals).
  • Separate the individuals involved, if necessary and as appropriate.
  • Quietly check in with and reassure the individual who was harassed (e.g., Are you okay?
  • Everyone should feel safe and be safe here. What happened was totally unacceptable, and you are very important to all of us.”)
  • Alert school administration of the incident and relevant details as soon as possible to allow for appropriate follow up and possible next steps.
  • Document what occurred and the steps you took for your own records.

  • It is important to investigate the situation in order to fully understand what is happening (reflect on the assumptions/judgements you may be making).
  • Ensure that the dignity of all involved is a priority and maintained at all times
  • Consider bias and barriers to equity, including personal perceptions and assumptions being made (e.g., assuming guilt before investigating due to past incidents).
  • In a timely manner, the principal/vice-principal will conduct preliminary fact-finding, in accordance with relevant procedures — at minimum this will require a conversation with the involved parties.
  • Principal/Vice-Principal may be required to conduct a more formal investigation depending on the nature of the incident and the results of the preliminary fact-finding.
  • Document throughout the investigation process — date and time stamp all notes and interviews.
  • Outcomes are determined using a balance of probabilities — you don’t always need hard evidence.
  • Principal/vice-principal will contact the parent/guardian to share what has happened and steps that are being taken (not required if student is over 18 years old).
  • Using a progressive discipline approach (e.g., early and ongoing interventions, range of options, consider individual circumstances and mitigating factors), decide on the appropriate course of action and consequences, in consultation with the Family of Schools Superintendent as needed.

  • Restore relationships and commit to ongoing monitoring and check-ins to proactively support a safe environment free from racism and discrimination.
  • After the investigation has been completed, restore with the individuals as needed and appropriate, using principles of Restorative Practice.
  • Ensure that there is no retribution for reporting an incident of racism and/or discrimination
  • Follow up with the individuals involved on a regular basis for a period of time following the incident (e.g., check in on the students more frequently immediately following the incident).
  • If appropriate, follow up with specific group/classroom.
  • Have ongoing conversations and learning about racism and discrimination.

Please click here to view the Framework and Resource Document — Responding to Student Incidents Involving Racism and Discrimination. 

Contact

If you have any questions please contact your school administration team.