An Instagram account was created this week with the intention of exposing alleged ongoing racist behaviour that takes place at Fish Hoek High School in Cape Town.
The first post details one experience, which has since sparked significant responses from other victims who claim racial (and other kinds of) abuse.
According to the social media statement shared on 24 May, a complaint was lodged 23 May against an Afrikaans teacher that “made an example and referred to black people by using the K-word”.
“As students, we’ve tried taking matters to the principal” but “nothing about the teacher/s was done”.
“As South Africans, we are all aware of the power that word holds and the damage it caused in the past and still continues to. [The teacher] is also familiar with using the N-word recklessly,” the post reads.
Students are protesting that these words can’t be justified “because of the context they were used in”.
Cape {town} Etc reached out to Fish Hoek High School. “There was a racial incident on Monday 23 May where an educator used racist terms during a lesson whilst attempting to explain historical context. However, the use of any racist terminology, whatever the context, is unacceptable and inconsistent with our values. We deeply regret the pain this has caused,” it says in an official statement.
According to the Instagram account, this incident is the tip of the iceberg. “Other problems that Fish Hoek High School sweeps under the rug include cultural appropriation and religious discrimination.”
The students say that they are “beyond devastated at the lack of repercussions” and are “tired of our voices not being heard”.
The account creators opened an Instagram story poll encouraging others involved at the school to share their experiences. One response, allegedly from a past student-teacher, claims that they were told “not to sit with the non-white teachers in the staff room”.
Other allegations include gender exclusion, racial bias and racial stereotyping.
Students shared protest footage on Instagram yesterday, which took place on school grounds. The enough is enough slogan has been attached to the cause.
“A meeting was held with a representative group of pupils to hear these and broader concerns around racism, intolerance and insensitivity and the way in which matters have been handled in the past. The Western Cape Education Department has been involved and will assist with dealing with the particular incident as well as broader issues with a multi-skilled team,” Fish Hoek’s statement continues.
“We acknowledge we have fallen short of our school’s values and need to do more to uphold the dignity and equality of all at our school. This must be viewed not as something that has happened to us, but as something that has happened for us. Fish Hoek High School is about “Learning to make a difference”. This is our mission statement. We recognise the need to continually evolve, and thus commit to an ongoing process of growth, transformation and development.
“We seek to move forward in a spirit of cooperation and equality in making our school a safe space for all – values which the school holds dear.
“Our school is committed to working with the Fish Hoek High School community (pupils, parents and community) in upholding the dignity of all and creating a school environment in which we can feel proud,” the statement concludes.
Also read:
Another racist incident being investigated at Stellenbosch University
Picture: Screenshot / Instagram
