Dear all:
Like many of you, we have been shocked by the tragic death of George Floyd, another unarmed Black man, who died at the hands of police in the USA. As all of us know, this is not an isolated incident, and anti-Black racism is real, deep and systemic, impacting not just those in the US but also Canada. We recognize the pain and frustration felt by our Black community members both within the Faculty and more broadly.
While we condemn all acts of racism, it is also vital that, as a Faculty, we re–assert our commitment to our core principles of equity, inclusivity, the valuing of diversity and social justice, and take actions that both support our Black community members and seek to make change. We are also aware that the Faculty of Education has particular responsibilities for working with teacher candidates (and teachers) in schools to help address the issues and concerns of Black students in terms of educational access and opportunities.
The Faculty does much work through initiatives such as the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and the Diaspora, the Faculty of Education Summer Institute, and our research and teaching, and through these we will continue to endeavor to ensure that racism – understanding its institutional and systemic reality – is challenged and addressed.
Of course, there is much more we need to do and we commit to engaging in further conversations and actions that will address anti-Black racism at all levels and in all spaces.
Take good care.
Lyndon Martin
Dean, Faculty of Education
Sharon Murphy
Incoming Interim Dean, Faculty of Education