Supporting the Education of Black Students through Content and Community

 

“Change has happened because of the activism of parents.”

Claudette Rutherford
Parent and member of the Steering Committee for Black Children, Canada

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“It is hard work but it is heart work.”

George McAuley
Coordinator of Anti-Racism Education and Math & Science, LDCSB


On February 3, 2021, Nelson hosted “The Future of Education for Black Students,” a virtual event with participation from 2500 educators. In attendance were educators, parents, students and system leaders from across Canada. Featuring a range of presentations, the event gave Black experts and educational leaders an opportunity to share their perspectives, experiences and ideas about meaningful steps that can be taken to dismantle anti-Black systemic racism in Canadian school systems. The evening included a panel of thought leaders within the Black teaching and learning community: Dr. Andrew Campbell; Natasha Henry; George McAuley; Colleen Russell-Rawlins and Claudette Rutherford. Jacob Robinson, a third-year University of Waterloo student also joined the panel and captured much of the audience. “Listen to students; survey what makes them feel respected and represented.”


“Professional Learning must be coupled with action and accountability.”

Colleen Russell-Rawlins
Interim Director, Peel District School Board


Greg Birkett covers the Black Canadian Experience during the first session of the Nelson webinar, See Us, Hear Us.

Greg Birkett covers the Black Canadian Experience during the first session of the Nelson webinar, See Us, Hear Us.

The call for a need to further understand the Canadian Black Experience has also been made clear. As part of Nelson’s commitment to Professional Learning and extending this opportunity to further build a community of practice for all educators, a nine-part series titled, See Us Learn Us, was launched in February also in recognition of Black History Month and to ensure the conversation and learning continued after the milestone month and the learning extends beyond the classroom. The series provides educators in Grades 5 to 12 a historical foundation, information about resources, and access to the ideas necessary to learn about and teach the Black Canadian experience. Particular attention will be given to showing educators how cross-curricular connections about the Black Canadian experience can be meaningfully represented in the education of Canadian students.




“A Black inclusive curriculum should be decolonized, anti-racist and transformational.”

Natasha Henry
President, Ontario Black History Society




A deep collection of resources devoted to the experiences and contributions of Black Canadians can be found in the “Black History Month” Edwin Collection.

A deep collection of resources devoted to the experiences and contributions of Black Canadians can be found in the “Black History Month” Edwin Collection.

Black educators Gregory and Coleen Birkett have over 30 years combined teaching experience with the Toronto District School Board and around the world. Both believe firmly in the need for further tools and resources for educators that support students in the classroom as it relates to deepening societal knowledge of the Black Canadian Experience.

Gregory Birkett is also working closely with the Edwin team to ensure that much of this information and more is reflected within the Edwin ecosystem available to educators. Many of the Edwin Collections and topics addressed in the series are available as accompanying classroom resources within Edwin including: The Transatlantic Slave Trade; African Nova Scotian History and Culture; The Black Loyalists and Slavery in British North America.




“If we want to understand what Canada is and what it could be, we have to understand what it has been. Knowing the Black Canadian experience really allows us to fill in a lot of the gaps in our often romanticized national narrative.”

Gregory Birkett



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The Black Canadian Experience is a vital part of the story of all Canadians. We’d love to hear how you’re expanding the conversation in your own practice. Please share your ideas in the comments section.

 

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