Learning Black history will soon become mandatory for Ontario students in grades 7, 8 and 9, something educators say is a good first step in improving awareness about the contributions of Black Canadians.

Downtown Toronto

Ontario is set to introduce mandatory Black history courses for students in grades 7, 8, and 9. This educational shift is aimed at enhancing the awareness of Black Canadians' contributions throughout history. Educators have received this update positively, considering it a significant initial move towards broadening students' understanding of Black history in Canada.



Ontario to make Black history courses mandatory

For these students, Black History Month ended, but learning about achievements of Black Canadians won't stop. I kind of wanted to take Black Studies to expand my knowledge of the positive contributions Black people had on our society. I grew up thinking that all this history that I was being taught in elementary school was true, not realizing that they were leaving out so much. That's thanks to their teacher, who saw a gap and helped design a Black Studies course for her students to take. We really wanted to center Black experiences in the past and present and wanted a course that was representative of the various Black communities. That's about to become a reality in Ontario. Starting in 2025, grades 7, 8 and 10 history classes will include mandatory learning with an emphasis on elevating Black history as Canadian history. The announcement, first of its kind, stirred up reactions around the country. I'm hoping that other provinces will, you know, be inspired. This professor says the move is commendable, but as both a parent and an expert, she has seen first-hand that some teachers may be disinterested, others even opposed to learning about Black Canadian history. Will teachers be trained? Will resources be provided for teachers? Are you going to bring all the various teachers' organizations and unions and associations and school boards to the table and say, hey, how are we going to do this? This Toronto teacher says the mandated learning needs to start way earlier than in grade 7. We have a provincial strategy for literacy. So from kindergarten all the way up to grade 12, there are specific things that we are doing that build upon what was done before and we know exactly where we're going. And that same approach is required if we want to begin to address or dismantle anti-Black racism. Over in B.C., teacher Melanie Schuer hopes her province heeds Ontario's example, something she believes would send a strong message to Black and all other students that Black history matters well after February is over. Deanna Sumanac-Johnson, CBC News, Toronto.

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