School District 74 is dealing with the aftermath following some controversial posters addressing ‘white privilege’.

Superintendent Teresa Downs, who is pictured in one of the posters saying she unfairly benefited from white privilege, says the posters actually went up in January of this year, after being inspired by similar ones in another district.

Downs says, the posters were aimed at addressing concerns they received from students regarding the topic of racial divides, and prejudices in society.

“I think it’s important to note that these three posters are really only one part of the work that we’ve been doing in the school district over the last 5-7 years around the issues of colonizaion, racism, prejudice, and privilege.”

As for the backlash surrounding the posters?

“I’m also not saying, and really, would like to clear up, the thought that all white people are of a high socioeconomic status. I am well aware that there are white people in our communities, as well as the province, and across the country, who are suffering from economic challenges. And the word, ‘privilege’ in this context, is not connected to affluence.”

The posters are drawing the ire of some who feel targeted for falling into the indicated privilege category, and others who feel the posters create racial division.