Is Teaching Racism Child Abuse?

One year ago in Winnipeg, Canada, a seven year old girl and her three year old brother were taken away from their parents by Manitoba Child Family Services after arriving in school with white supremacist quotes and symbols drawn all over their bodies.

Last week the case finally went to trial. The social worker testified in front of the court, revealing that the girl used racial slurs and stated that all black people should die. Child welfare workers found white supremacist paraphernalia in the children’s home, including videos depicting racial violence.

The girl’s stepfather argues that the removal of his children is a violation of his freedoms “of conscience, belief and association,” under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Winnipeg Free Press recently revealed that the stepfather was part of an online movement in support of the genocide of Natives and Jews in Canada.

The mother, who is estranged from the stepfather, denies ever teaching racism or the idea of white supremacy, although she acknowledges that she takes great pride in her race. According to the Ottawa Citizen, “She admits drawing a swastika on her daughter in an attempt to ‘piss off’ the school based on ongoing concerns she had with the curriculum.” Still, the mother contends, “I honest to God do not believe she said those things…I think [the social workers] wanted her to say those things and were putting words in her mouth.”

The social worker who testified contended that what was most disturbing was the calm demeanor of the girl as she stated that all black people should die. “She said you would whip black people with a ball and chain and they would die.”

This case raises the issue of parental rights and whether they have limits. While most can agree that teaching violence and racism to children is wrong, is it a parent’s right to teach their children absolutely anything? Or do such rights end once beliefs become potentially harmful to the children and to society?

Read more: canada, civil rights, racism

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Marena C.

12:56AM PDT on Jun 25, 2009

@Sarah. Do you mean to say, that if I had a child and taught it that homosexuality was wrong, that would be child abuse? You must be joking. Why should I teach my child that it was ok to be gay when my common sense tells me it is NOT OK. Just teach your child not to hate anyone, abuse anyone or be violent towards anyone, including gays.

send a green star

Elizabeth S.

11:11AM PDT on Jun 23, 2009

I don't see where it was alleged the child physically harmed or killed anyone. So at this point it seems it is just a matter of whether we want to take a child away from his/her parents solely on the basis of a parent's beliefs and those beliefs being taught to their children. And I don't see how we can do that since parents do have a right to raise their children in their own beliefs even if the rest of us disagree with the belief.

Sarah D.

2:45PM PDT on Jun 21, 2009

"The girl's stepfather argues that the removal of his children is a violation of his freedoms "of conscience, belief and association," under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

It's no longer freedon of "conscience, belief, and association" when your kids are beating and or killing people for their skin color, heritage or sexuality.

2:38PM PDT on Jun 21, 2009

Teaching racism IS child abuse. It's psychological abuse. Teaching homophobia is also child abuse. Teaching any form of prejudice is child abuse.

Lika S.

12:55PM PDT on Jun 13, 2009

While everyone is entitled to their belief system, it is abusive when that same belief system takes from the lives and quality of life of others. It's one thing to say your race is better than another. Totally different to say that the other race should be beaten to death. People who can't refrain from violence ought to not have children, as what if a person from the other race who believes the same about yours kills YOUR child because you think it's ok to hate that much? Absurd! We are all here for a reason, and if we can't try to learn from each other, we're basket cases. Stop teaching hate.

7:16PM PDT on Jun 11, 2009

Children of Amish parents will also "miss out on innumerable job opportunities, friendships, and enriching activities because they don't want to socialize with the majority of Canada's population."

I think we have to remember that although there are certainly cases when the state must involve themselves in family life to protect the rights of the child, it should only be in truly dangerous situations. Sometimes parents have beliefs which they wish to raise their children in. While we consider the Amish benign and racists ugly, the end result is the same in terms of the isolation, lessened job opportunities, etc. But we allow the Amish to raise their children in their own beliefs.

Heather A.

7:05PM PDT on Jun 11, 2009

Although everyone is entitled to their beliefs (as long as they do not infringe on anyone else's rights), I have to say that teaching racism is child abuse. In this day and age, for a child to fall for any of the rubbish these white supremacists believe, they need to be completely sheltered and utterly brainwashed. This in itself is abusive. Another thing to consider is the impact that this attitude will have on the child's future. They will miss out on innumerable job opportunities, friendships, and enriching activities because they don't want to socialize with the majority of Canada's population. For instance, can you see such people letting their child to go university in a big city? Teaching children to be racist is the very opposite of nurturing.

Dometria L.

3:12PM PDT on Jun 11, 2009

PS: Pardon my clerical error. Please note that children are Not born to know hate or abuse, its festering influence comes from their closest guardians and nurturers, their parents, extended family

3:05PM PDT on Jun 11, 2009

Children are born to know hatred or abuse. Its so important to nurture love , tolerance and understanding to our children, especially when they've had to experience the opposite from their peers. I was the brunt of much racism in Canadian schools as were my children. It has to stop and parents must be made aware of how dangerous and abusive it is to be hateful of others. What affects one, affects all of us.Peace in our Quest for Truth and the protection of our Youth everywhere.

Ainsley C.

3:38AM PDT on Jun 8, 2009

all races are equal in the eyes of God and all are made in the image of God. you dont need to be a theologian to work that out from scripture. pro-racist teaching to young folk is evil and the parents must have an iq of minus 200. there surely is a law against doing so. the parents should be made legally liable for their comments and,as part of the punishment, be educated big time about the evil attitude of being racist.people make such a big deal about the melanin content of skin! it is pathetic.