Racist abuse in schools revealed

NEW figures reveal dozens of children have been racially abused in Tayside schools in the past year.

During the 2019/20 school year, 43 incidents of racism were reported.

This includes 29 in Dundee, eight in Angus and six in Perth and Kinross.

This is down from 122 incidents in 2017/18 and 67 in 2018/19, but anti-racism campaigners are still concerned by the figures.

Councillor Georgia Cruickshank, who represents the Maryfield ward on Dundee City Council, has said everyone must take collective action to stop racism in schools.

Ms Cruickshank, who recently spoke of racist abuse she experienced in Dundee during a council meeting looking at the city’s links to the transatlantic slave trade, said: “Racism of any kind is unacceptable; one is one too many, and 29 in Dundee is far too many.

“If you are standing there and someone calls someone else a racist name and you do nothing you are as guilty as the person making the racist remark.

“There have been incidents in Dundee with people ripping down posters and defacing the George Floyd mural so racism is alive and kicking.

“The numbers are dropping so we must be doing something right, and with George Floyd and the antiracism movement last year there is a heightened awareness of the situation.

“We will never eradicate racism completely but at least if we take positive action we know we are doing something, so things can only get better.”

Kyle Rourke, a member of campaign group Stand Up To Racism Tayside said: “It is good the numbers have halved recently but it is still abhorrent and there is a long way to go.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Bullying of any form is entirely unacceptable and we need to be vigilant in challenging any racist and abusive behaviours in schools.”

A Perth and Kinross Council spokeswoman said: “Any instance of racism in our schools is treated very seriously, and we are proactive in the work schools undertake to prevent such incidents occurring.

“Schools are encouraged to report such incidents should they occur, and they will be responded to appropriately in line with council policy and guidance.”

A spokesman for Angus Council said: “All incidents of racism are unacceptable, whatever form they take. We advise our young people to report any such incidents immediately so they can be investigated and dealt with promptly and effectively.

“Where any racist incident occurs, children must be able to report their concerns with confidence that they will be acted upon.”

Dundee City Council was also contacted for comment.

Statistics show that dozens of racist incidents were reported in school across Tayside during 2019/20.