An Elk Island Catholic school apologized and said it will do better after a teacher wore a Halloween costume to a class some mistook as "black face." .On November 1, St. Andre Bessette Catholic high school in Fort Saskatchewan posted an apology message to Instagram and said "Yesterday our staff Halloween costume theme was 101 Dalmatians."."Some of our staff members came dressed as soot-covered Dalmatians," St. Andre Bessette said..A group photo of the teachers dressed up for the theme was also posted to Instagram by the school without the "soot-covered Dalmatian" teacher.. teachersgroup .Pictures of the teacher in question were posted online by students of her writing on the whiteboard dawning the outfit, her face completely covered in black paint..The caption for the photo claimed, "Fort Saskatchewan Catholic school teacher paints her face black as a 'Dalmatian' for Halloween. They're well known for being a racist school and have pushed away many racialized teachers.".The school quickly apologized for the teachers mistake.."This presented as blackface and offensive," St. Andre Bessette said in the post.."We apologize as a school community. We will do better.".Others took to local Facebook message boards to defend the teacher.."I personally know this (teacher). I went to school for a number of years. She is a very sweet woman and meant no harm. She made a mistake. There was an apology. It won't be done again as it was said, and I'm sure she has learned her lesson," a Fort Saskatchewan resident said.."Halloween prompted the staff to all dress as Disney's 101 Dalmatians," Assistant Superintendent Thérèse deChamplain-Good of Elk Island Catholic Schools said.."Unfortunately, a staff member depicted the 'soot covered' dalmatian. We addressed the situation internally and posted an apology on the main social media channel of the school."
An Elk Island Catholic school apologized and said it will do better after a teacher wore a Halloween costume to a class some mistook as "black face." .On November 1, St. Andre Bessette Catholic high school in Fort Saskatchewan posted an apology message to Instagram and said "Yesterday our staff Halloween costume theme was 101 Dalmatians."."Some of our staff members came dressed as soot-covered Dalmatians," St. Andre Bessette said..A group photo of the teachers dressed up for the theme was also posted to Instagram by the school without the "soot-covered Dalmatian" teacher.. teachersgroup .Pictures of the teacher in question were posted online by students of her writing on the whiteboard dawning the outfit, her face completely covered in black paint..The caption for the photo claimed, "Fort Saskatchewan Catholic school teacher paints her face black as a 'Dalmatian' for Halloween. They're well known for being a racist school and have pushed away many racialized teachers.".The school quickly apologized for the teachers mistake.."This presented as blackface and offensive," St. Andre Bessette said in the post.."We apologize as a school community. We will do better.".Others took to local Facebook message boards to defend the teacher.."I personally know this (teacher). I went to school for a number of years. She is a very sweet woman and meant no harm. She made a mistake. There was an apology. It won't be done again as it was said, and I'm sure she has learned her lesson," a Fort Saskatchewan resident said.."Halloween prompted the staff to all dress as Disney's 101 Dalmatians," Assistant Superintendent Thérèse deChamplain-Good of Elk Island Catholic Schools said.."Unfortunately, a staff member depicted the 'soot covered' dalmatian. We addressed the situation internally and posted an apology on the main social media channel of the school."
