Report from Edmonton researchers shows stark student accounts of anti-Palestinian racism

September 24, 2024 Canuck

A report from Edmonton researchers has found stark student experiences of anti-Palestinian racism in Alberta schools.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) published Our Schools/Our Selves – Palestine and the Canadian education system in its Aug 27 issue. The issue is focused on looking at what anti-Palestinian racism is and how it shows up in the classroom.

The issue features chapters from Canadian academics and advocates featuring reports and discussions on settler-colonialism, liberation, racism and how that is taught in schools.

Muna Saleh, an associate professor with Concordia University in Edmonton, looked at the experiences of Palestinian Muslim students in K-12 schools in Alberta.

Before being approached by CCPA to contribute to the issue, Saleh engaged in research conversations between October 2022 to June 2023 with Palestinian students across the province.

Based on this research, Saleh along with research assistant Nada Awwad contributed to their chapter ‘It’s like we’re not even allowed to be Palestinian: Anti-Palestinian racism in schools.’

“We identified two main narrative threads that reverberated across participants’ stories: All participants experience(d) systemic anti-Palestinian racism in schools; yet all participants engage(d) in teaching and learning about Palestine in their homes and communities,” the chapter states.

WATCH | The distinct nature of anti-Palestinian racism

Anti-Palestinian racism is a distinct type of prejudice, says lawyer

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Lawyer Dania Majid, founder and president of the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, says anti-Palestinian racism is a distinct form of racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames or dehumanizes Palestinians and those who advocate for Palestinian rights. She explains how it’s different from other types of racism.

Saleh draws on the definition used in the 2022 report, Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations, by the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association.

“Anti-Palestinian racism is a form of anti-Arab racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives,” the report said.

Within the context of the education system, Saleh heard from students that instances of anti-Palestinian racism manifest in different ways.

“The primary way that they experienced anti-Palestinian racism was through silences and exclusions,” Saleh said in an interview with CBC.

“And this is where Palestine and Palestinians aren’t mentioned or discussed in classrooms or schools at all, including during current events, discussions and social studies classes, even when Palestine is very much in the news.

“And this is most likely because even the mention of Palestine or Palestinians is too often considered controversial or political.”

Saleh said she heard from one high school student who tried to organize an awareness campaign and fundraiser during Israel’s military bombardment of Gaza in 2021, but was told by school administration she was not allowed.

“Keep in mind that this student was a leader in her school’s social justice group, a group that regularly organized awareness and fundraising campaigns, and keep in mind that she attended a school when Muslim and Arab students make up the majority of the school student population,” Saleh said.

“After sharing that story, the participant said, ‘It’s like we’re not even allowed to be Palestinian.'”

Saleh said she also heard from a student who had brought a keffiyeh to school for culture day but had a classmate take it from her, covering his face and referred to himself as a terrorist.

The student said this incident did not prompt any action from teachers.

Work being done in schools

In June, Toronto District School Board trustees voted to consider a report that recommends adding the term “anti-Palestinian racism” to its learning strategy.

The report argues the board should include the term to address anti-Palestinian racism in its Combating Hate and Racism Student Learning Strategy in response to student and community voices advocating for the update.

CBC requested comment from the Edmonton Public Schools, Calgary Board of Education, University of Alberta and University of Calgary following the findings from the CCPA report.

The two school boards and the U of C referenced their individual anti-racism policies but made no mention of anti-Palestinian racism specifically.

“We know that racism still exists in our school division and broader community. We believe that listening to, and learning from, students, staff, families and community is critical to understanding what is important as we work towards being an organization where everyone experiences a sense of belonging,” an Edmonton Public Schools communications consultant said, referencing the Board Policy HAAB.BP Anti-racism and Equity

A spokesperson for the CBE said they were not aware of the report, “but we can tell you that racism and discrimination of any kind are not tolerated in the CBE.”

“We have administrative regulations specifically focused on welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning and work environments with which we expect all students, staff and community members interacting with the CBE to understand and comply with.”

A U of C spokesperson said, “The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Protected Disclosure and Research Integrity work to achieve the university’s commitment to maintaining an equitable, diverse, and inclusive campus that is accessible to all and free from harassment, bullying, and discrimination.”

The U of A, in reference to anti-Palestinian racism, told CBC about its advisory committee on Displaced Palestinian Scholars and Students for those coming to Canada in the near future. A spokesperson also noted resources for those affected and harmed by the university’s responses to the encampment and Palestine activism.

Saleh, who is Palestinian, said she was motivated to pursue research after seeing how there was a lack of discussion in schools about Israel’s military bombardment of Gaza in 2021.

“My three children went to three different schools at the time, elementary, junior high and high school, and two of them, were in schools that had a student population that is primarily Muslim and Arab,” Saleh said.

“They never discussed anything related to what was happening in Palestine. And considering the fact that’s something that students are readily seeing … they’re seeing these events live streamed quite often on their phones. That disturbed me.”

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