As a former international student with my parents paying a lot per year for my education, I entered…read moreMGC with high expectations for both the quality of education and the overall experience. Unfortunately, my time there was marred by blatant racism and what I can only describe as borderline discriminatory behavior. At MGC, being racist as a teacher is a prerequisite to achieving a high position within the school.
There is a deeply embedded culture of favoritism at MGC. Unless you fit a very specific mold;outspoken, popular, and consistently performing at the top you are overlooked, ignored, or even treated as a burden. I am resilient, compassionate, and shy. I didn't fit the school's narrow definition of "exceptional," I was often dismissed, unsupported, and made to feel invisible.
Teachers, who are supposed to be role models promoting values like diversity and inclusion, often end up perpetuating systemic racism through their actions and attitudes. In Year 10, we were made to analyze Animal Farm by George Orwell, a novel that warns against the abuse of power and the dangers of inequality. Yet, within the very same school system, assistant principals and other staff members abused their authority, especially targeting students and parents who didn't speak English fluently. It's ironic that we are taught to recognize oppression in fiction, yet experience it in real life. The people who are supposed to protect and support us often end up exploiting our vulnerabilities.
I personally witnessed troubling instances of mistreatment. On one occasion, I passed two year-level leaders who were openly speculating about another student in a negative light with their door wide open. Teachers repeatedly mispronounced my name, as well as the names of other Asian students, despite us making repeated efforts to correct them.
I also witnessed blatant unequal treatment. While white students were running around screaming, Jo Jepson took it upon herself to reprimand the Asian students for simply peeling glue residue from their hands after completing an art project. Carolyn Zimmerman, an irrelevant figure at MGC, makes it her business to get involved in all the school camps, spending her time yelling at Asian students as a hobby. Tonia Douglas Scarfe never lets you speak for yourself. She constantly talks over you, dismisses your words, and refuses to listen. She is completely unreasonable.
The treatment of students of color during school photos was especially distressing. Teachers handed out makeup wipes to several students of color, instructing them to remove their makeup, saying things like, "You look too brown," "Take your cross off," and "Take your hijab off." This behavior is appalling and highlights the deeper issues of racism at MGC.
Even the wellbeing counselors, who preach about privacy and offering support, are not genuine. They frequently share your personal matters with others, including teachers, betraying the trust they are supposed to uphold.
Racism at MGC often goes unspoken because students of color are frequently silenced by those in power, while white students are the ones benefiting from the favoritism.
Tonia Douglas and Leigh Hanley seem to show a clear pattern of favoritism towards white students. On multiple occasions, these teachers have been seen letting white students off with just warnings, even when they've displayed behaviors similar to, or sometimes less disruptive than, students of color who receive harsher disciplinary actions. This behavior suggests a racial bias in how they apply the rules, which results in unfair and disproportionate punishment for students of color. White students appear to be treated with more leniency, often avoiding serious consequences, while students of color seem to be more frequently reprimanded or punished for actions that would typically warrant a less severe response.
Tonia Douglas's behavior in the kitchenette has raised concern. It has been noted that she often gives students of color "weird looks" when they happen to be in the same space. This non-verbal behavior is a subtle but telling example of microaggressions; small, often unconscious actions that can convey bias or discomfort. These looks can create an uncomfortable atmosphere, leading students of color to feel judged, unwelcome, or scrutinized in an everyday, neutral setting. Even though no words are exchanged, these non-verbal cues send a message that these students are not fully accepted or may not belong in the same space as her.
There have been multiple instances where Tonia Douglas, Leigh Hanley, Kate Nicholls have been overheard gossiping about studentsin their office, often with the door open. This behavior is not only unprofessional, but it also creates a toxic and disrespectful environment. Instead of maintaining confidentiality and treating students with the respect they deserve, these staff members seem to engage in conversations that undermine the students' dignity and reputations.
