High school Vice Principal under investigation

A Vice Principal at a high school in Caledon is under investigation. Why? His Halloween costume. He dressed as Mr. T, the black actor famous for the 80’s TV series, The A-team. Some people say he took it too far. Elise Copps has reaction.

Vice Principal Lionel Klotz painted his face and neck to look like a black person. Halloween costumes including “blackface” have become increasingly controversial.

Actress Julianne Hough came under fire last week for dressing like a black character from the series “Orange is the New Black”.

And while some people say Klotz was just showing school spirit, others argue the getup was completely inappropriate for a school administrator.

This is the photo that triggered the firestorm.

Student: “He would joke about shooting us up.”

Lionel Klotz, a Vice Principal at Mayfield Secondary School dressed as the actor, Mr. T, for Halloween, in blackface.

One student who started a petition said: “As a Mayfield student, as a black Mayfield student for that matter, I really didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

Student: “I think it’s getting blown way out of proportion.”

Student: “It was just a costume. He wasn’t trying to offend anyone.”

But Radcliffe Dockery was offended: “Why someone would dress up like that?”

The photo was actually taken inside the school building. The administrators were dressed up as part of a costume contest.

Klotz emailed the photo to Principals across the Peel District.

It was forwarded to Dockery, who complained to the school board and shared it on Twitter.

Radcliffe: “You’re gonna make a man lose his job. Go f**k yourself b**ch>

Now, he’s being bombarded with hateful messages from supporters of Klotz

Radcliffe: “People are swearing quite viciously, calling me you freaks, you idiots, you people.”

As late as the 1940s in theatre and film, blackface was used as a caricature of African Americans.

That’s Bing Crosby in black face. And that’s why Dockery took offense to the costume: :<Blackface was used to mimic and make fun of people of African descent.”

“This many pages African descent.”

But students at Mayfield Secondary say Klotz’s costume was different meant to entertain, not offend. They’ve gathered hundreds of signatures, asking the school board not to fire him.

Tony Pontes is the Director of Education for the Peel District School Board: “While there may not have been any intent to do harm, the truth of the matter is that harm was done.”

Student: “We understand that actions should have consequences. But we think the consequence should be equivalent to the action.”

The school board has yet to make a decision, and when they do, it will be kept confidential. Wednesday, students at Mayfield Secondary School will be sent home with a letter explaining the situation. The Director of Education says their petition will have an impact on whether Klotz is punished, and how severely.