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The idea that black students are viewed as inherently older is something that I think I always sort of knew, but seeing it discussed in those terms during PD has opened my eyes to when it happens in this building. It is troubling that we don't give black students the same freedom to be children.

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The idea that black students are viewed as inherently older is something that I think I always sort of knew, but seeing it discussed in those terms during PD has opened my eyes to when it happens in this building. It is troubling that we don't give black students the same freedom to be children.

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Two students were talking in class about grad photos, and how the photographer told one of them that "Your hair is too big" and repeatedly kept touching their hair. Just a stark reminder for me that microaggressions are coming at our students constantly. We need to do better.

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Two students were talking in class about grad photos, and how the photographer told one of them that "Your hair is too big" and repeatedly kept touching their hair. Just a stark reminder for me that microaggressions are coming at our students constantly. We need to do better.

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I realize as an educator that I will always have something to learn about myself.   I thought back to something Adrienne Glasgow said in a meeting last year about her son's daily struggle due to his Blackness.  She had tears in her eyes - I could see and feel her pain.  I have thought about that many, many times since that meeting and it had provided me with some perspective - perspective I could not realize and cannot fully realize because of my privilege. Complacency takes no effort; making a difference is a daily task - one worth the effort. 

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I realize as an educator that I will always have something to learn about myself.   I thought back to something Adrienne Glasgow said in a meeting last year about her son's daily struggle due to his Blackness.  She had tears in her eyes - I could see and feel her pain.  I have thought about that many, many times since that meeting and it had provided me with some perspective - perspective I could not realize and cannot fully realize because of my privilege. Complacency takes no effort; making a difference is a daily task - one worth the effort. 

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It seems that over the past few years there is an assumption that systemic racism permeates all institutions and organizations. I sometimes have difficulty understanding/accepting the concept of systemic racism (in certain situations). If policies and widespread practices in an organization are contributing to racial inequality, that is obviously "systemic". My issue is with separating individual actions from the policies and practices of the organization. If a teacher, for example, acts in a manner that could be viewed as racist, is that an example of systemic racism simply because that person is part of the "system" - even if the actions of the individual teacher are in opposition to the stated policies of the school?  

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It seems that over the past few years there is an assumption that systemic racism permeates all institutions and organizations. I sometimes have difficulty understanding/accepting the concept of systemic racism (in certain situations). If policies and widespread practices in an organization are contributing to racial inequality, that is obviously "systemic". My issue is with separating individual actions from the policies and practices of the organization. If a teacher, for example, acts in a manner that could be viewed as racist, is that an example of systemic racism simply because that person is part of the "system" - even if the actions of the individual teacher are in opposition to the stated policies of the school?  

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I think it's important that our ANS and Black students feel that we as staff are taking the initiative here as well. They shouldn't always have to tell us that there's a problem to be solved and we're not seeing it. I was reading through the Black Lives Matter at School websites and they mentioned the first week of February being their Week of Action and to join in. As a school are we taking part in this? We should be planning something.

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I think it's important that our ANS and Black students feel that we as staff are taking the initiative here as well. They shouldn't always have to tell us that there's a problem to be solved and we're not seeing it. I was reading through the Black Lives Matter at School websites and they mentioned the first week of February being their Week of Action and to join in. As a school are we taking part in this? We should be planning something.

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The build up of microagressions was a good reminder of how there are things occurring in someone's life that are impacting the way that they are interacting with you.

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The microaggression about having the black person be the spokesperson for their race kind of bothered me. I ask questions of a black co worker all the time. I apologized to them for doing so yesterday. They said they have no problem asking my questions. I feel comfortable asking them questions, and I do so because I want to learn, from a black person. I have always thought, that's how you learn, by asking.  

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The microaggression about having the black person be the spokesperson for their race kind of bothered me. I ask questions of a black co worker all the time. I apologized to them for doing so yesterday. They said they have no problem asking my questions. I feel comfortable asking them questions, and I do so because I want to learn, from a black person. I have always thought, that's how you learn, by asking.  

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I also loved the mosquito video. What a perfect way to explain it.

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I also loved the mosquito video. What a perfect way to explain it.

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Today was a really good first step but it really shows how little we have accomplished over the last four years of CRP.

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I am still unsure where we go from here in terms of the staff and students at PAHS.  I'd like to think next Monday will be different/better but how will we know that?  How will students know that?

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I am still unsure where we go from here in terms of the staff and students at PAHS.  I'd like to think next Monday will be different/better but how will we know that?  How will students know that?

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I think the activity with the backpack helped reinforce to me that because I am a White, middle-upper class heterosexual male, I'm not sure I've ever encountered any microaggressions directed towards me.

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I think the activity with the backpack helped reinforce to me that because I am a White, middle-upper class heterosexual male, I'm not sure I've ever encountered any microaggressions directed towards me.

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It is really important to recognize that there is a spectrum when talking about where each of us is with regards to becoming anti-racist.  I am optimistic that this wonderful session today brought all of us a little further to the left on this spectrum while also showing us that we need to continue to move farther towards the goal.

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It is really important to recognize that there is a spectrum when talking about where each of us is with regards to becoming anti-racist.  I am optimistic that this wonderful session today brought all of us a little further to the left on this spectrum while also showing us that we need to continue to move farther towards the goal.

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I teach a Black student who sometimes comes to class late and takes a bit of extra time on breaks.  I didn't phone home at first because I thought that his parents would support what he was doing (missing class, missing work).  Then I checked myself and realized I needed to call home and let his parents know.  I was so wrong.  The mom asked me why I didn't call sooner.  She wants to know what her son is up to in school, how he behaves, what work he's missing.  

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I teach a Black student who sometimes comes to class late and takes a bit of extra time on breaks.  I didn't phone home at first because I thought that his parents would support what he was doing (missing class, missing work).  Then I checked myself and realized I needed to call home and let his parents know.  I was so wrong.  The mom asked me why I didn't call sooner.  She wants to know what her son is up to in school, how he behaves, what work he's missing.  

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I realized earlier this year that despite my best intentions, I had completely misjudged and stereotyped a Black male student based on the way he dressed and acted in class. I interpreted his relative quiet as disinterest and assumed he must struggle academically. In talking to another teacher I realized I knew nothing about him and my assumptions were completely wrong.  I don't recall saying anything overt to him that would have been a microaggression, but I'm sure the tone of my voice and the way I interacted with him were different from what they should have been. 

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I realized earlier this year that despite my best intentions, I had completely misjudged and stereotyped a Black male student based on the way he dressed and acted in class. I interpreted his relative quiet as disinterest and assumed he must struggle academically. In talking to another teacher I realized I knew nothing about him and my assumptions were completely wrong.  I don't recall saying anything overt to him that would have been a microaggression, but I'm sure the tone of my voice and the way I interacted with him were different from what they should have been. 

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I read a report at the Blackspan website about teacher perceptions of Black families. It was interesting to contrast the perspectives of white and Black teachers of Black families. White teachers were more likely to express the idea that Black families valued education less. 

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I read a report at the Blackspan website about teacher perceptions of Black families. It was interesting to contrast the perspectives of white and Black teachers of Black families. White teachers were more likely to express the idea that Black families valued education less. 

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BlackSPAN stands for Black Students, Parents, and Allies Network. Our objective is to address the barriers confronted by youth of African descent within the Nova Scotia school system by drawing on the strengths of Nova Scotia's Black community and its allies.

Report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on its mission to Canada
United Nations Human Rights Council
Thirty-sixth session
11-29 September 2017
Note by the Secretariat:
The report transmitted herewith contains the findings of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on its visit to Canada from 17 to 21 October 2016. In it, the Working Group presents the current legal, institutional and policy framework, and measures taken to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, Afrophobia and related intolerance faced by people of African descent in Canada, underscoring positive developments as well as gaps in implementation. The Working Group describes the situation, highlights good practices and the main challenges identified, and makes concrete recommendations.
20 pages
Review of Services for African Nova Scotian Learners
December 2014 - 7 pagesTripod Survey - Targets and Conditions Analysis: High School
2010 - 23 pagesTripod Survey - Targets and Conditions Analysis: Grades 7, 8
2010 - 25 pages

BlackSPAN: Black Students Parents and Allies Network

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Reports - educational barriers to Nova Scotia black students, stories, research

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BlackSPAN stands for Black Students, Parents, and Allies Network. Our objective is to address the barriers confronted by youth of African descent within the Nova Scotia school system by drawing on the strengths of Nova Scotia's Black community and its allies.

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Thank you for the Canadian content in the resources list. There are a lot of people (myself included) that have fallen for the belief that "at least we're not like America". So these resources can give all of us a better picture of the very real issues that exist in our society and how prevalent these experiences are.

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I grew up with the phrase "colour blind". It was part of the vernacular that I was taught by my mother, a woman who is consistently trying to be better than the society she was brought up in. So when I first heard that this phrase was a microaggression, my first reaction was defense. But learning the importance of recognizing an individual's entire identity has been a very empowering learning experience for both her and I.

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Having a name for the different kinds of microaggressions is really important. I think for people who are struggling to understand the difference between non-racist and anti-racist, this really highlights the variety of examples of racism in everyday language and how even well-meaning people can be causing pain without realizing it.

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I realized that I CAN do this - I have to focus on it actively every single class. 

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I realized that I CAN do this - I have to focus on it actively every single class. 

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My lightbulb moment was the constant "bites" from the Mosquito film - such a helpful analogy. 

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My lightbulb moment was the constant "bites" from the Mosquito film - such a helpful analogy. 

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If students are afraid of teachers and teachers are afraid of students, we need to find ways to come together and get to know each other.