– Page 65 –

Introducing the Caucasian Janice Sargeant
Timeline: September 25, 2023 – September 29, 2023

65.1 The parents promptly sent an email for action through to the principal Janice Sargeant.

To: Janice Sargeant janice.sargeant@dsbn.org
Warren Hoshizaki warren.hoshizaki@dsbn.org
Mary Ann Gage maryanne.gage@dsbn.org
Dated: September 26, 2023

Hello, I had hoped to avoid speaking with you this year and to simply fly under the radar, but unfortunately that is regrettably not going to be the case.

So far, after three weeks of school, I have heard from our son about an instance of racism and hatred be spoken in my son’s Geography classroom. The incident happened yesterday September 25, 2023 while our son was in Mr. DuPont’s class for his fourth period and a substitute teacher was present.

Three of the male students in his class were openly hurling racist slurs at each other and the substitute teacher, who was seated in the front of the class and directly in front of three students did nothing to stop them.

They use terms like; “Hey my chocolate Timbit… You’re my slave, Do my work, or I’ll whip you.”

They were literally feet away from our son, acting fearlessly without regard for him and other students as they sat in first row, seats 5 and 6 from the door, directly to my son’s left.

Because he was frightened he might suddenly find himself the subject of their bigoted and ignorant behavior, our son was reluctant to speak up. Our son is reluctant to address racism because he fears that he will again become the subject of reprisal for speaking up about it.

This has happened frequently in the past while our son was being assaulted, verbally abused, harassed, intimidated and hunted by students and staff within the DSBN system.

Additionally, the fact that the teacher was immediately in front of these students when they were using these racist slurs and did nothing. Intimidated our son enough not to fighting this battle as it appeared he would be doing it alone again!

Even though it happened yesterday, he only told us about it today. I saw that he was bothered by something yesterday when I picked him up from school and when I asked what was wrong? He replied “I don’t want to talk about it, maybe later?”

We didn’t pursue the matter and left it alone. He started tearing up in the car today after I picked him up from school and told me what had happened yesterday. I questioned him as to why he did not tell me or his mother yesterday and he replied “Nothing has changed everything is still the same crap at this school as every other school! So I just can’t be bothered to talk about it anymore. I am just going to suck it up and ignore them!”

Please discuss this subject with the 3 students and PLEASE DO NOT use our son’s name or complexion in this situation. Please handle the situation as an unidentified complaint that leaves the students and class wondering who it was; a White or Black student or even the teacher.

I DO NOT WANT ANY MENTION OR IMPLIED STATEMENTS MADE THAT IN ANY WAY WOULD AWARE ANYONE IN THAT CLASSROOM TO EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO THINK THAT IT WAS OUR SON WHO CARRIED THE ISSUE FORWARD.

Since the third student was still on our son’s left side, but further behind him, our son is unsure who it was. Out of fear, our son stated that he was unwilling to glance up and back at the time because he was afraid he might become the target of their racist behavior. We asked him if he can try to figure out who he believes it was tomorrow as he enters class. Again, he is unsure, but he promised us that he will try. You might need to learn this third person’s name via a chat with the other two students.

Please send us a follow-up email detailing what was done about it and what steps were taken to avoid it from happening again?

As I have you for this email. I want to make it clear that NO ONE from the DSBN is EVER allowed to speak privately to our son about any situations that may emerge involving him. We don ‘take phone calls; all communication needs to be done through email.

Once more, NO ONE is permitted to speak or question our son without a parent present about anything involving him. The only time the school should contact me or his mom by phone is in an emergency or if he is feeling unwell. As his father, I am your first call; if I don’t answer, call his mother and then sister if need be.

This is not personal between us. I have spoken with you in the past and you seem like a very friendly individual and I actually looked forward to our son starting at your school this year. Remember this has nothing to do with you, it is just a practice that has been put in place because of individuals like Warren Hoshizaki, Mary Anne Gage, Jacqueline Ravazzolo, Christopher McInnis and Kevin Maddalena.

65.2 After the parents did not receive a response by the end of the following day. The parents again had to send a follow up email.

To: Janice Sargeant janice.sargeant@dsbn.org
Warren Hoshizaki warren.hoshizaki@dsbn.org
Mary Ann Gage maryanne.gage@dsbn.org
Dated: September 27, 2023

Did you speak to the two known students individually today about their racist behavior?
The third student involved is a Black student that sits near the back of the room in the furthest row from the door.

To: Janice Sargeant janice.sargeant@dsbn.org
Warren Hoshizaki warren.hoshizaki@dsbn.org
Mary Ann Gage maryanne.gage@dsbn.org
Dated: September 27, 2023

Please send us a follow-up email detailing what was done about it and what steps were taken to avoid it from happening again?

65.3 3 hours had passed from the last email and it was clear that no response was coming in regards to Kevin Elzinga racist behavior or what was being done about it.

65.4 The parents know that a response is not fourth coming, because as previous patterns had shown over the past two years. The DSBN, Warren Hoshizaki , Mary Anne Gage and now Janice Sargeant had no intentions of address the parents concerns until at least multiple emails were sent to them in regards to the same issue..

65.5 So the parents decided that this deliberate practice by DSBN employees of not wanting communicate with them in regards to their concerns for their son’s well-being while attend one of their Secondary Schools was not going to go unaddressed and that they were no longer going to play this waiting game, and have to send multiple emails about the issues over a period of days anymore!

65.6 The next email the parents sent later that night was a HRTO application/ complaint against Janice Sargeant in regards to her inability to handle this racist and anti-Black situation appropriately.

To: HRTO File hrto.efile@ontario.ca
Janice Sargeant janice.sargeant@dsbn.org
Warren Hoshizaki warren.hoshizaki@dsbn.org
Mary Ann Gage maryanne.gage@dsbn.org
Jacqueline Ravazzolo jacqueline.ravazzolo@dsbn.org
Kevin Maddalena kevin.maddalena@dsbn.org
Dated: September 27, 2023

We have added a new individual Janice Sargeant to our complaint, and we have merely altered the content on page 2 (yellow highlights).

65.7 Amazingly after not responding to the parents concerns about the racist Kevin Elzinga and the incident within a DSBN classroom for more than a day.

65.8 Janice Sargeant received the applicant’s HRTO complaint and supporting documents at 6:20 PM. Astonishing, Jance Sargeant suddenly found the time at 6:28 PM, ONLY EIGHT MINUTES LATER, to express her deepest sympathy for the applicant for what he had experienced and the parents concerns.

From: Janice Sargeant janice.sargeant@dsbn.org
Dated: September 27, 2023
Hello,

I appreciate you reaching out to me to share what happened the other day in class and how your son was impacted. My first goal was to ensure that your son felt safe and had a positive experience in class today.

I made his teacher aware that there was a report of inappropriate and racist language being used in the Geography class when he was away. Today, his teacher began class by addressing the expectation that in this class and in our school our top priorities are to ensure that everyone feels safe, respected, and comfortable. As such, it is the expectations that students use respectful language and behavior at all times. I will continue to investigate and speak to the teacher who was in the room at the time of the incident.

65.9 Why is it that the parents have to always resort to an extreme measure to get any form of response from the DSBN in regards to their son and his safety and well-being?

65.10 Janice Sargeant was definitely aware of the experience that the applicant had while in her school for more than a day. And at no point in time, did she take the time to send a simple email response to the parents. Reaching out to them to assure the family that she was in fact going to look into the situation and get right back to them.

65.11 The DSBN, Warren Hoshizaki, Mary Anne Gage or Janice Sargeant showed absolutely no interest or concern that entire day about the applicants exposure to the discriminatory behavior of Kevin Elzinga and a racist Caucasian student until after receiving the HRTO complaint.

65.12 Not once during the course of the entire school day did the DSBN, Warren Hoshizaki, Mary Anne Gage or Janice Sargeant determine that maybe it would be advantageous at the very least, to acknowledge the parents email and that someone, anyone will take their concerns SERIOUSLY and will INVESTIGATE!

65.13 Recall how Kevin Maddalena tried to dismiss the applicant’s parent’s inquiries and worries about his inability to assign schoolwork using what we assume he believes to be the archaic old method of using a pencil and paper. And the parents again had to send him a follow-up email that they knew would get his attention and get a reaction. Which it did accomplish!

To: Kevin Maddalena Kevin.Maddalena@dsbn.org
Dated: September 19, 2021

Hello, I have explained to our son he is no longer going to be using the white board for any work. I want to be able to see what he is doing in school and where he is going wrong and having a hard time understanding. He will be bringing all work home that he does each day so I can stay on top of what is being done.

65.14 Well 2 days after receiving the HRTO complaint, Janice Sargeant finally sends her promised follow up email.

From: Janice Sargeant janice.sargeant@dsbn.org
Dated: September 29, 2023

Hello, I am writing to provide you with an update on my investigation regarding the incident of September 25th. I interviewed both supply teachers that were in the Geography class on Monday. I have confirmed that the inappropriate racist comments occurred. In one instance the teacher (Cam Stone) did interrupt and stopped and redirected students. One teacher (Kevin Elzinga) did not intervene and the school is taking the appropriate action to ensure this does not happen again.

At TSS, we are committed to ongoing professional development and learning. We worked with our equity team and have already included Equity Connections as part of our upcoming PD day on October 6th. Staff will also be participating in DSBN Equity Cafe Learning sessions.

I want to ensure that your son is supported and reassured that Thorold Secondary is a safe and inclusive school. We have many supports that are available to him here including a full time social worker and other caring adults.

65.15 Keep in mind that the class had two substitute teachers on this particular day and Janice Sargeant’s email served as confirmation of this. “In one instance the teacher (Cam Stone) did interrupt and stopped and redirected students. One teacher (Kevin Elzinga) did not intervene”

65.16 As this email seems to be slightly fictional and inaccurate to the parents, they went back to their son and asked him to again explained his experience again to them. And after elaborating on it and using the same chronology of events. The applicants parents questioned their son about any other events from that day that he could have forgotten to disclose. The applicant asked, “No! Why?” with a perplexed expression.

65.17 The parents described how there appear to have now been a couple of racist incidents that day, in his class according to the principal and the two substitute teachers.

65.18 The applicant reasserted that Kevin Elzinga was the ONLY teacher who was presence in the classroom, the ONLY time the comment “HEY MY CHOCOLATE TIMBIT” was made. And he “did not intervene.”

65.19 The parents sent Janice Sargeant an email in an attempt to get some of this confusion straightened out.

To: Janice Sargeant janice.sargeant@dsbn.org
Dated: September 29, 2023

Hello, what teacher was it that spoke up about it? First teacher or second one?

From: Janice Sargeant janice.sargeant@dsbn.org
Dated: October 02, 2023

Hello, in response to your question, it was the second teacher who redirected students after he heard the phrase, “chocolate Timbit.”

65.20 So it has now been established that “one instance the teacher did interrupt and stopped and redirected students. And One teacher did not intervene” And the teacher who “did interrupt” was specifically identified by Janice Sargeant as being the “second teacher.”

65.21 There seem to be some unanswered doubts regarding the veracity of the occurrence and how it was handled. The order of events as described by Janice Sargeant does not match what actually transpired.

I. Janice Sargeant acknowledges that the racist incident stated by the applicant did happen.
II. Janice Sargeant also states that there were two different racist incidences occurred with two substitute teacher.
III. Janice Sargeant admits that these two different racist incidences occurred at to deferent times.
IV. And that the second substitute teacher (Cam Stone) was the one who “did interrupt,” while Kevin Elzinga did not.

65.22 If correct that means Janice Sargeant just stated that there were two racist incidents, in the applicant’s same class, on the same day at Thorold Secondary School. The obvious question that follows is. Was it the same student?

65.23 Since Kevin Elzinga was only teacher present when this racist incident happened. And Kevin Elzinga was the first teacher for the day. Why is the second substitute teacher (Cam Stone) claiming that a new second racist incident occurred when it appears it did not?

65.24 It is clear in the parents email that it neither explained what teacher was present or the time of the incident.

65.25 So in theory Janice Sargeant was left to work it out on her own. And she was unaware of the time or the identity of the teacher during the incident. Janice Sargeant was unable to make any attempts to make up a falsehood to shield a particular teacher at that point. Janice Sargeant could not take the chance of having to covering up the fact that the wrong teacher was being protected!

65.26 So when she approached the second substitute teacher (Cam Stone) and she could not offer a time for the incident. It appears that out of fear the second substitute teacher (Cam Stone) thought that it might have happened during his class and did not catch it. So he choose to make the claim that he heard the two innocent words “Chocolate Timbit” being said and determined it to be offensive and addressed it.

65.27 But for some reason Janice Sargeant decided she still better speak to Kevin Elzinga about this matter before calling it quits on the matter. Obviously something did not sit right with Janice Sargeant with the second substitute teacher (Cam Stone) story; as it appeared to lack some of the applicant’s recollection of events?

65.28 So when Janice Sargeant approached Kevin Elzinga. He stated that in fact he also heard racist comments, but he did nothing to “interrupt” it.

65.29 This now immediately puts Janice Sargeant in a bad spot, as she now has two separate substitute teachers claiming there was a racist student, say racist slurs in their class, despite their only being one incident.

65.30 As Janice Sargeant is unable to determine what teacher was telling the truth and which was lying. She was forced to submit both teachers recollection of both their racist incidents. Janice Sargeant could not take the chance of having to try covering up for the wrong teacher and it back firing because of the parents.

65.31 Janice Sargeant was well aware of how that worked out for Jacqueline Ravazzolo and Kevin Maddalena in the past and the odds were that she wanted nothing to do with that. So instead of running that gauntlet, she offered up both substitute teachers and their stories and let the cards fall where they may.

65.32 It is pretty clear and obvious that the incident did happen during Kevin Elzinga time in class. He admits the incident did happen, and was WILLING TO THROW HIMSELF UNDER THE BUS, risking his job by admitting he did not stop the student.

65.33 One thing that must be pondered is; Why was Kevin Elzinga willing to lay it all on the line and risk everything?

65.34 Was he just being honest as he was overwhelmed by guilt of what happened? Or was he offered some kind of immunity or reassurance that it would not go any further than that conversation?

65.35 Or maybe it resulted in only a quick lecture by Janice Sargeant on DSBN policies? “One teacher did not intervene and the school is taking the appropriate action to ensure this does not happen again.”

65.36 Only Janice Sargeant and Kevin Elzinga can answer these questions as they were the only individuals present during the conversation when Kevin Elzinga confesses. Give it a year and maybe Mary Anne Gage or Kevin Maddalena can place themselves there during the conversation and vouch for a sudden change of events!

65.37 Also as Janice Sargeant stated “it was the second teacher who redirected students after he heard the phrase, “Chocolate Timbit”. One has to wonder if Tim Horton’s is aware that the innocent two word term “Chocolate Timbit” has now become political incorrect and is now considered to be an offence term?

65.38 The truth of on this matter is that the second substitute teacher (Cam Stone) DID address the class that day according to the applicant. But it was not about hearing the two innocent words “Chocolate Timbit” being said. The second substitute teacher (Cam Stone) addressed the class for ONLY their loud behavior.