The Waterloo Region District School Board has decided to defend a professional development training session where educators were instructed that the term “family” is harmful and rooted in white supremacy.
The school board released a statement defending the training session, claiming that it was part of professional development anti-racism requirements mandated by the Ontario government.
True North obtained internal training materials from a presentation given to WRDSB staff in November 2023, asserting that the word “family” implies the valuing of positions of male hierarchy, a nuclear family structure, obedience without question, and the sacrificing of personal boundaries for the sake of the family.
Another slide lists a number of ordinary values and attitudes as “characteristics of white supremacy culture,” including perfectionism, individualism, objectivity, worship of the written word, paternalism, and power hoarding.
While the WRDSB acknowledged the article and its 2023 training exercise, the school board did not apologize for the presentation, instead attempting to discredit the original reporting.
The school board misleadingly claimed that the article did not “include the full context” of the presentation despite the report quoting directly from multiple slides of the presentation. Additionally, the WRDSB did not respond to True North’s requests for comment.
“The article referenced a professional learning session with school educators. However, the article did not include the full context of the presentation,” reads the WRDSB statement. “The excerpts shared were part of a larger professional development session designed to deepen understanding around language, systemic bias, and how we can work together to ensure all students and families feel seen, respected and included.”
The WRDSB alleged the session was part of the board’s efforts in combating racism.
“The session explored how different communities may experience public institutions differently, and how educators can be thoughtful and inclusive in their communication. These discussions are part of our ongoing commitment to human rights, equity, and learning.”
The WRDSB also claimed that it was merely following in the footsteps of the federal anti-racism strategy, the Ministry of Education’s anti-black racism strategy, and the Ontario College of Teachers’ advisory on anti-racism.
Ontario’s education curriculum incorporates culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy, an applied form of critical race theory, despite denials from the Ministry of Education.
The WRDSB previously denied that critical race theory is part of its programming. In June 2022, trustee Cindy Watson introduced a motion requesting a report on the use of critical race theory in lesson plans.