The former head of the state’s top selective school has laid bare the extent of racial discord within the highly competitive institution in a speech to parents, saying students of South Asian descent were referred to by the N-word and called “slaves” while other parents have been threatened with violence.
In her last week as James Ruse principal, Rachel Powell lambasted the school community over students’ use of overtly racist language and parents who forbid their children from socialising with students from other backgrounds outside of school.
Former James Ruse principal Rachel Powell stressed that racist incidents among students could usually be easily resolved but said she was “shocked” by the behaviour of parents.Credit: Jessica Hromas
“Words have been used particularly targeting students of South Asian heritage, words that refer to the colour of their skin, words that associate them with particular animals, the N-word, which I hope you will know what that word is, and calling them slaves – that is absolutely intolerable,” Powell said at her last P&C meeting at the school.
Despite Powell telling parents racist language was increasing, an Education Department spokeswoman said there had been one incident of racist language recorded by the school in the past year and those students had been counselled.
“Also, actually, the N-word is not just being used now towards people. It’s actually being used as an expletive,” Powell told parents.
“Some people said ‘oh, they’re just learning online’. They are learning it online. That’s why it’s increasing. So it’s our job as adults to educate them.”
Powell stressed that racist incidents among students could usually be easily resolved but said she was “shocked” by the behaviour of parents.
Former James Ruse High School principal Rachel Powell. Credit: James Brickwood
“I’ve heard from some people that they have felt excluded at this school. I’ve even heard that from prospective parents. So a couple of years ago, prospective parents said to me ‘these particular social media groups, we can’t engage in them because they’re in a different language to the one we understand’.”
Powell did not name the ethnic background or the language used by parents accused of excluding others but said she had previously been told that the school’s president “had to be from the Chinese community”.
“Students have told me that their parents won’t let them go to their friend’s houses because they’re from a different community background.”
The speech was sparked by a series of concerning incidents at the school and a backlash to some emails sent to parents, which encouraged them to communicate school information in English so everyone felt included.
Powell, who took up a new post as Sydney Girls High principal on Monday, told the meeting of parents that she had been reticent to go into details of racism in the emails because “The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph would have a field day if they found out about anything negative […] they would love to report on that”.
Since those emails were sent in October, Powell said she had since learnt of more concerning behaviour from parents.
“People have been targeting some of our parents, and when I say targeted, I am shocked,” she said.
She said that included threats of physical violence while some parents had been “frightened to volunteer at events and in the canteen”.
During a recent state byelection event organised by the school, it was “pretty obvious that people didn’t come in because they were frightened to attend because there have been threats of protests and violence”.
In response to questions by the Herald, a department spokeswoman said the threats were not referred to police as they were rumours only.
The spokeswoman said Powell had spoken at the P and C meeting to dispel rumours that were circulating around the parent community.
In a statement, Powell said in her time as principal she was proud to lead a school that promoted inclusion and did not tolerate racism.
“On the small number of occasions where an incident occurred, we responded immediately and with the full support of parents and students,” she said.
“At a recent P&C meeting, I reinforced our school’s commitment to the department’s new anti-racism strategy and received an outpouring of support from the parent community.”
Incoming principal Matthew Dopierala is expected to have to address the racism and parent issues at the school, which is referred to as the “jewel in the crown” of public education in NSW.
The school had been the top performer in the state when it came to HSC results for 27 years in a row, until last year when it was bumped from pole position by rival selective school North Sydney Boys High School.
A NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said: “James Ruse Agricultural High School does not tolerate racism and promotes a culture of inclusion at the school.
“All our students are taught the importance of social justice and the need to behave with integrity.”
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