We remember after George Floyd died the outpouring of support from everyone. The personal messages from friends and colleagues asking us how they can help. The Blackout Tuesday and online statements of solidarity in support of Black lives. The protests, the marches, the woke culture. Watching a similar reaction take place towards the Asian community […]
How are you addressing anti-asian racism in Canada? Read More »
Dear Educator Colleagues: Have you ever heard the following? “It’s okay to discuss race, as long as you don’t bring it up first.” “Sure, you can talk about the protests, just don’t have an opinion.” “A parent has called to speak with me about the article you used that connected the recent insurrection in the
Can you talk about racism in the classroom (without getting in trouble?) Read More »
To be called the n-word is an unfortunate yet inevitable rite of passage for Black children. Most of us can remember the first time it was called to us. I also remember the first time my child was called the n-word. A classmate approached them and asked them to finish this sentence, “I like salt
Does the n-word belong in the classroom? Read More »
To Our Community, It has been a while since we connected with you and we appreciate your patience as we sort out our next steps. We wanted to reach out and let you know what we have been doing and what we are planning for the coming months. At the end of 2019, Parents for Diversity
Help us ensure every child’s right to an education free from discrimination Read More »
We received this communication from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) this week: “As you know, earlier this year, the OCDSB undertook a survey of identity based data. All parents of students in JK-6 and students in grades 7-12 were invited to complete the survey. We are pleased to share that 74,975 surveys were sent
Calling All OCDSB Families and Community Partners Read More »
What do last night’s Academy Awards and Black authors have in common? You may recall a tweet by Stephen King in January in which he claimed, “…I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.” For King, “those judging creative excellence should
Why We Should Celebrate Black Authors During Black History Month Read More »
This will be our final blog post of 2019. Today, we are writing to thank you. Thank you for being a part of our community. Thank you for sharing your struggles, your needs, your fears, and your triumphs with us. Thank you for holding us accountable in our work. Thank you for pushing us to
Will You Join Us in Our Year-End Gratitude? Read More »
We are fortunate to live in a city where our school board offers French and English language instruction beginning in kindergarten. There are so many advantages to being multilingual, and I’m grateful that my daughter has access to this kind of education. When she brought home this pair of colouring sheets from her kindergarten class
When Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) stepped into an elevator in 1955 on his way to a meeting with his publisher, Houghton Mifflin, he encountered Annie Williams, the elevator operator. She was “an elegant, and petite woman who wore white gloves and a secret smile”.[1] Ms. Williams would later serve as the inspiration behind
How Blackface can be a teachable moment…in the Classroom and at Home Read More »
Thousands of students in many of the English school boards will begin the new school year tomorrow. Like all beginnings, the school year welcomes new possibilities, opportunities and ways to think more critically about how to engage diverse identities and experiences. How a child experiences school can have a tremendous impact on their well-being and
