Uniting Voices

Voices of Immigrants

Racial Discrimination in the School System

On March 21, 2024, Angela Bueno was a speaker and discussion facilitator at our Building Inclusive Communities event to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. As a Filipina who arrived in Canada in her teens, and now an educator, she talked about her own and other newcomers' experiences of racism and discrimination in the local education system. We are grateful to Angela for allowing us to share the text of her powerful presentation.

"We often hear that education is the key to a better life for everyone, right? But the truth is, racial discrimination throws a huge obstacle in the way for many people in our community.

Before I begin to tell you how racial discrimination in education affects our community, I’d like to tell you my personal story and stories that have been shared with me by our community members.

When I came to Whistler from Canada, I was at the age of Grade 11 students. But because the Ministry of Education requires all students to write and pass the provincial exams, I would need to wait a whole school year before going into Grade 11. I walked into the guidance counselor’s office to let them know that I did not want to wait. I felt ready and confident to write the exams as I’ve already studied the same curriculum in the Philippines. I was told that they’re not confident I would pass because English is my second language and therefore I would have a hard time with the exams. I advocated for myself 3 times but was continuously advised to wait another school year.

The second story comes from a mom from Mexico. Her son came home from school one day asking to “go home”. She said “we are home”. To which he replied “my classmates told me to go back home, I want to go back to Mexico.” When she reported this incident to an employee from the school, she was brushed off and was told that “kids will be kids”.

Lastly, this story is from another Filipino lady who used to attend the Whistler Secondary School. She had heard that students are welcome to see the guidance counselor for counseling. Her impression of this was that all students were welcomed to express their hardships and will be offered comforting, reassurance, and guidance on how to solve their problems. That was exactly the opposite of what she received. She expressed her challenges assimilating to a non-diverse crowd of students. She also talked about troubles at home with her parents and friends and family back home. However, instead of receiving understanding from the counselor, she was told that based on her low school grades, all of this must surely have been her fault. She thought that there was absolutely no regard or show of concern for the cultural differences that she was facing. No further support was offered after this encounter. This person also felt alienated by other students. She felt like they avoided her and that they thought she was “weird”. She had shared with me that high school was the loneliest time of her life.

So to go back to your question - Given how important access to education is, how is discrimination based on race affecting residents in our community?

Well, based on these stories, I believe that one of the worst things about racial discrimination is how it makes people doubt themselves. Just imagine being told, directly or indirectly, that you're not as good as others because of the color of your skin or the country you were born into. That kind of message can really mess with one’s confidence, especially for young people who are just starting to figure out who they are and what they want to do with their lives.

Because of this self-doubt, many people who face racial discrimination might not even try to go for opportunities like job promotions. They start to believe they're not good enough, even when they are just as qualified as anyone else, or even more so. This creates a cycle where doors that are open to everyone stay closed to those who have been unfairly judged.

Discrimination also makes it hard for people to stand up for themselves and their rights. When you're constantly made to feel like you don't matter, it's tough to speak out and demand fair treatment. This lack of self-advocacy further compounds the barriers to accessing quality education and meaningful opportunities.

And let's not forget about the ripple effects on families. Parents who see their kids facing discrimination start to question whether they made the right choice to come to Canada, hoping for a better future. It's heartbreaking to see them doubting themselves and their decisions because as a child of immigrants and a parent myself, parents do NOT make the choice to uproot their family from their home country lightly.

On top of all this, discrimination causes a lot of anxiety. The constant fear of being judged, overlooked, or excluded corrodes mental well-being, making it difficult to focus on learning, personal growth, or pursuing one's goals.

In essence, racial discrimination casts a long shadow over our community, hindering individuals from realizing their full potential and dreams. It undermines confidence, stifles opportunities, and erodes the sense of belonging for many. It's crucial for us to unite in our efforts to dismantle these barriers, fostering an inclusive society where every individual, irrespective of race or background, can thrive and access the education and opportunities they rightfully deserve."