A white high school teacher in a Toronto suburb has sparked criticism for wearing a durag to class for a Black History Month activity on Wednesday, CBC News reports. 

Azjani Senior, a student at Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School in Ajax, Ontario, reportedly confronted the teacher sporting the durag, telling him it was "a bit racist," Senior told CBC Radio's Here and Now. When the student suggested the teacher remove the durag, he refused; Senior brought the issue to the vice principal, CBC reported. 

The school's principal, Dave Chambers, said the idea to wear a durag was brought forward by the Black History Committee at the school. He provided the following statement to CBC regarding the incident:

"The idea was brought forward by the Black History Committee as a way to promote Black History Month in combination with a dress-down day. This was a club-initiated activity for students and staff, not a board-wide initiative. We acknowledge that this was not the outcome that was anticipated, and we apologize if the activity offended anyone."

While CBC reported that some black students did not find the durag to be offensive, Senior's mom, Debbie Miles, said she hopes teachers and students "gain a better knowledge of what Black History Month is about."

"We want the school to recognize and to understand the impact of that decision," Miles told CBC News. "If it's lack of understanding and ignorance on their part and the students' part, we want appropriate steps for the students and the teachers to gain a better knowledge of what Black History Month is about."