Today my son was cornered at school by kids who wanted to “test” him for
#Coronavirus
just because he is half-Chinese. They chased him. Scared him. And made him cry.
I was the same age when I was bullied for being Pakistani.
It’s 2020. I thought things had changed by now... 💔
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Update: my son is okay. Confused but okay. A Chinese friend and his brother were also targeted.
This morning, we talked about what racism is.
I will talk to the principal. There is hope for education, perspective and compassion. Here’s to making a better world.
#coronoravirus
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Update: I spoke to the Principal.
She apologized. By then, she had learned of similar incidents in other classes. She immediately informed relevant parties and went to each class in each grade to talk about
#racism
,
#coronavirus
, and
#compassion
. This is leadership in action.
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I am grateful for the support, and overwhelmed by the response to the tweet. I’m so sorry that I won’t be able to respond to all the tweets.
More than that, I’m struck by the stories from others. Of
#racism
experienced in the
#Ebola
crisis. The
#SARS
crisis. Now.
This is real.
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@Haqanwar
I plan to call the school tomorrow. Found out after getting home from a long day at the clinic.
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@DocSchmadia
I’m so sorry to hear your son experienced this. I read your tweet to my sons who felt this was terrible. My 10 yr old has said he will make sure this isn’t happening in his school yard tomorrow.
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@DocSchmadia
Nadia. It’s so sad to hear that this happens in 2020. Yesterday, my daughter’s two friends were stopped on Yonge street and admonished to “stop eating bats and snakes.” I thought we had come a long way from my grandfather’s experience in the riot at Christie Pitts in 1933 ☹️
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@DocSchmadia
@GJosephRoche
I am so sorry to read this. I will soon be giving a session (to our doctoral students) about how children from migration backgrounds experience “current affairs” at school (mainly linked to a study I did around Brexit and Trump. I would very much like to share this tweet if I may
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@DocSchmadia
Tell your son that there are more good people than bad.This is just ignorance and your son should never be bullied.
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@RickBonnette1
Thank you Rick. The school principal has done a great job managing the issue. We are grateful.
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@DocSchmadia
My daughter (who’s mother is Chinese) coughed at school and was told she had
#coronavirus
This behaviour does not originate in
#children
It is a combination of
#racism
and
#paranoia
in their parents
#Teachers
need to be proactive in addressing this
#onthealth
#ontedu
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@DocSchmadia
Nadia, it’s upsetting as a parent. I feel for you all. It’s happened to my kids. It happened to me. Talk it out but don’t pretend it didn’t happen. To be a POC in this country we have to hold our heads high always and pick our battles well. 🤜🏽🤛🏽
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