Page 10 - Anti-Racism Pocketbook for Schools and Academies

The impact on racism on children/parents/carers and
ethnically diverse staff

Firstly, many ethnic minority teachers have openly discussed
how systemic racism, overt, and subtle racism affect the

educational system within the UK. Looking at the statistic

shown above, we can see that there is an issue with offering

ethnic minority people jobs and retaining them within the
industry.

Describing his experience as a black male teacher, Adrian

Rollins gives various examples to some of the racial prejudice
that ethnic teachers face. Beginning with a student calling

him racial slurs and him being victimised after this student

received a light consequence for his actions, Rollins described

a very micro-aggressive work environment that would ‘nit-
pick’ his every move until he left.

Outside of these micro-aggressive workplaces, it can be

difficult for many ethnic teachers to find support due to the
lack of other minorities working within the same

environment as them. Feeling unsafe, undervalued, and

completely victimised within his work, Rollins left his

position.

Secondly, this lack of representation of ethnic minorities

within the UK educational system that was discussed above,

leads into the impact of racism on children within the school
system.

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