Cheryl Wood (Blog 3)

This week’s reading had background information about education in the past. There were a few parts that made me sick due to the treatment of many people of different races. This chapter gave some information about the different races in Canada and the assimilation and segregation they were put through.

Many things about the residential schools sickens me due to the sexual, mental and physical abuse these children were put through. On page 73 it mentions how children in the residential schools were purposely being exposed to tuberculosis and the death rate of the children was around 50%. How could people be so uncaring of these children, where there wasn't a problem with having half of the residential school population die??? I can’t believe that the last residential school was only closed down in 1996 as stated on page 75. It doesn't surprise me that so many Aboriginal children are in foster care today due to the inter-generational effects of the residential schools. As stated on page 77, “Residential schooling often resulted in disconnection and emotional distance from family members, and alienation from their culture, traditions, community, and language.” The survivors who attended residential schools would likely have psychological issues due to the treatment. They would have little knowledge as to how to be a parent as they never grew up in a stable environment. As more generations are born they may get into a cycle of not having the proper parent and grandparent figures which leads to more and more children in foster care.  

As the years pass by I continue to learn more and more about the country I was born and raised in. I used to think of Canada being a country of freedom and acceptance but now I question that and don’t believe that especially hearing about things of the past. In the text it talks about assimilation of Aboriginals and segregation of many races including Black, Chinese, and Japanese. I just don’t understand how Canada has taken pride in being a multicultural country when things such as this have occurred.

Discussion Question:

What action could we as educators take to ensure we have a healthy diverse classroom and limit discrimination?