The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) board voted in favor of a motion to replace the current 11th grade English language course with a curriculum focused on Indigenous, Métis and Inuit writers.
The motion was passed by a vote of 18 to 3.
Prior to the vote, Student Council Member Isaiah Shafqat, of the Two-Spirit Mi’kmaq and Loon Clan, urged the Trustees to support the motion to send a message of solidarity and the importance of Indigenous perspectives. urged.
“I would like to stress to the Trustees and the public that we are not going to trade Shakespeare, Dickens or (other) classical literature for Indigenous writers like Leanne Simpson or Tanya Talaga. High school students must graduate from Indigenous education courses,” he said.
“This meets the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 63.1, which is to provide an age-appropriate curriculum on boarding schools, treaties, and the historical and contemporary contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canada, starting in kindergarten. Make it a mandatory educational requirement for students in grade 12.”
Many councilors also spoke in support of the motion, calling it an important step and fulfilling opportunity for students.
“By incorporating indigenous authors and texts into 11th grade English, students will not only meet 11th grade English expectations, but will also be exposed to astonishing First Nations, Métis, and Inuit literature that may not be covered in other courses. You can touch the full range of , ”said TDSB Chairman Rachel Chernos Lin in a post-voting statement.
The motion was forwarded to the TDSB’s Planning Priorities Committee on January 26 and acted upon.
The superintendent of schools is asking for a report on plans for the phased implementation of education. Modern Indigenous, Métis and Inuit Voices (NBE3U1) (NBE3C1) is a required grade 11 English credit for all TDSB secondary colleges, colleges, and workplaces.
This course is already available in some schools as an alternative to the required Grade 11 English course, but is not required. There are no changes to the English program for grades 9, 10 and 12.
This course focuses on contemporary Indigenous, Métis and Inuit voices rather than European authors, but is designed to prepare students for the 12th grade required English course.
In submitting a motion to TDSB’s Planning Priorities Committee, the Trustees cited the inclusion of First Nations voices in the required curriculum as part of implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and I recognized a voice like this: Canadian history. ”
The motion requires the superintendent to submit a report by June of this year. The motion also calls for the Director to consider ways to incorporate Indigenous education into TDSB’s Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.
Colleen Russell Rollins, the board’s director of education, said in a statement that she fully supports the course’s implementation.
“Indigenous elders and scholars have reminded us that truth must come before reconciliation, but TDSB and the Ontario education system are committed to ensuring that all students are truthful about Indigenous talents, contributions and histories. We don’t yet have mechanisms to ensure that we learn from the voices of the indigenous peoples of modern Canada,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for students to graduate with a deeper understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories than their parents or guardians.”
