Education in Ottawa

How to organize a primary school dance that is both revolutionary and community-building

August 27, 2021 / 3 minutes of reading

Last year my oldest child attended her first school dance. She was in kindergarten. When I received the flyer for the dance at our public primary school (kindergarten through grade 8) I remember thinking “Why the heck are they inviting the whole school to this dance? Why would kindergarteners want to attend a school dance?” …

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When Speaking Up Works!A Success Story (And How You Can Speak Up Too)

September 19, 2021 / 2 minutes of reading

You may recall our blog post from a few weeks ago discussing how colouring worksheets can uphold bias, reinforce stereotypes, and erase racialized children from the curriculum. Here’s an update on what happened after speaking up about that worksheet. My child’s teacher responded to my email: “Sometimes we get caught up in the hoopla of …

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How kindergarten colouring worksheets uphold stereotypes and create bias (and what to do about it)

September 9, 2021 / 6 minutes of reading

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 …

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Image of a student with a hijab reading a textbook

Islamophobia in Our Schools

September 9, 2021 / 3 minutes of reading

Islamophobia in Canada is increasing at a concerning rate; Muslim students are particularly vulnerable to Islamophobia.  There is no shortage of stories about Islamophobic incidents both physical and verbal in our communities. Students are on the receiving end of hateful speech and actions by administrators, educators and their fellow school community members. Schools have a responsibility …

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Image of children on a playground

What is Equitable and Inclusive Learning? A Parent’s Perspective on the First Day of School

September 9, 2021 / 6 minutes of reading

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 …

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photo taken at the weekend workshops

A Weekend of Workshops on Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Schools

August 27, 2021 / 4 minutes of reading

In March, 2018, Parents for Diversity, along with black organizations in the National Capital Region, met with then Attorney General of Ontario, Yasir Naqvi, to discuss systemic racism in schools. During the meeting, parents shared their experiences of being silenced by teachers and school boards, and feeling alienated when their children experience anti-black racism. The …

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