“IN GRADE 5, MY CLASS WENT ON A FIELD TRIP TO THE SHIRE HALL. THAT’S OUR CITY HALL IN PICTON. WE ATTENDED A COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE ANYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY CAN BRING UP AN ISSUE AND THEN MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT IT. THIS INSPIRED ME TO PUT TOGETHER A DEPUTATION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD ASKING FOR BLACK HISTORY TO BE TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS. I BELIEVE THAT RACISM IS TAUGHT, AND IF WE ARE NOT TEACHING KIDS ABOUT OUR HISTORY OR HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE AND OTHER CULTURES HOW WILL THEY LEARN?”


16 ETFO VOICE | SUMMER 2021


In Grade 5, my class went on a field trip to the Shire Hall. That’s


our city hall in Picton. We attended a committee meeting where anybody from the community can bring up an issue and then make a statement about it. This inspired me to put together a deputation to the school board asking for Black history to be taught in our schools. I believe that racism is taught, and if we are not teaching kids about our history or having conversations about race and other cultures how will they learn? Education is the root for development in chil- dren, so why are we not talking about our full history in Canada and having better conversations with students about race?


VOICE: Can you tell me why it’s important for girls, in particular, to speak up about social justice issues?


RH: I think that it is important for girls to speak up about social jus- tice issues because girls and women in general already face inequality. I also think that there is nothing more powerful than a young woman using her voice to make change.


VOICE: How did your work to get more people thinking about why it’s important to teach Black history as an integrated part of the curriculum get started?


RH: I emailed the director of education in my area, Sean Monteith, regarding why Black history should be integrated in the curriculum in our local schools. I researched the current curriculum and equity program and found many areas where we could highlight and add to the curriculum. I also found where we are not fulfilling it. I sent this


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