Canadian School Denies Calling the Word 'Family' Racist
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A Canadian school board in Baden, Ontario, has denied teaching its staff that the word "family" is racist.
The claims first surfaced in a news article, which revealed details from a presentation given to staff at the Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School (W-O) entitled: "Dismantling Whiteness at W-O: Words Matter."
Newsweek reached out via email to Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), outside of usual working hours, seeking further information and comment.
Why It Matters
Race can be a sensitive and, in some school districts, politically-divisive issue, both educationally and socially.
Some commentators have suggested that racism in Canada has surged in recent years, where classroom discussions on race and language have gone viral and teachers have been provided with an online tool to allow them to anonymously report racist incidents.
Protesters march during an anti-racism demonstration on June 6, 2020, in Toronto.
Protesters march during an anti-racism demonstration on June 6, 2020, in Toronto.What To Know
Teachers at the high school in Baden were reportedly shown a slide that stated the word "family" had been "identified as harmful by our racialized students," according to alternative media site Juno News in collaboration with the True North website.
However, the WRDSB has hit back, by releasing a statement "categorically" denying that its workshop had been "teaching that the word 'family' is racist." It is the second time it has faced the issue.
The presentation about "dismantling whiteness" was given back in November 2023, although details only emerged this month. The story was broken by Juno News in a post by a True North journalist on June 4, after the outlet was given the materials by a whistleblower.
One of the slides, which was pictured by the news outlet, said that "Whiteness is a system…a construct that allows white supremacy to flourish." Another quoted from a book called Culturally Relevant Pedagogy by Laura Mae Lindo, which said that white culture teaches various "biases" and uses "key words and phrases to promote the dominant culture."
One such word was "family," which entails individuals "sacrificing personal boundaries," and was deemed "harmful by our racialized students," because it implies a male authority in the home and a nuclear family that many people do not have. The word "family" also "asks for obedience; [with] no room for questions or criticism," the slide reportedly said.
Another slide suggested that asking for evidence amid allegations of racism was a "characteristic of whiteness" that should be abolished.
The outlet quoted an anonymous source at the school board, who said: "Teachers just want to get on with their job of teaching. Ideology—if you will—is just something many teachers acknowledge as being present. They just want to get on with their jobs…Whether [anyone within the administration] believes it or not is anyone's guess."
However, officials from the WRDSB responded with an initial statement on June 6, saying the workshop simply "explored how different communities may experience public institutions differently, and how educators can be thoughtful and inclusive in their communication."
However, the new statement released by the board several days later went further.
What People Are Saying
An online statement published by chair Maedith Radlein on behalf of the board on June 10 said: "In the past week trustees have been receiving emails stating that the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) is teaching that the word 'family' is racist. I would like to state categorically that this is not the case. The word 'family' and what it represents is integral to all we do.
"A look at our website will reveal numerous references to family…A look at our policies and procedures will also reveal the intentional focus on family and the commitment to continue working to improve and strengthen collaboration between home and school.
"The workshop referenced by the news article took place one and a half years ago. Since then, there has been no change in the quality of the partnership between school and families in that community, and therefore no basis for the accusation made in the article. Families have always been and will always be welcome in every school in the WRDSB; they are an integral part of school life."
In addition, "the news article did not include the full context of the presentation," the board argued. The event was held to provide staff with "the professional development required" to carry out various policy approaches, such as Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy. It was "necessary to explore and understand the ever-changing and evolving nature of language and how it has affected the lived experiences of some of the families in the WRDSB."
The statement also went on to "express regret for the racist hate mail directed at Dr. Laura Mae Lindo," who was not involved in the session, although a slide from one of her previous presentations was included.
Radlein concluded by saying that the trustees stood by the commitment to the board's current strategic plan, which "was built using what we heard from students, staff, families and community members."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen if the furor will die down with the release of the school board's statement.
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