Love Letter from Halton DSB’s Equity & Inclusive Education team
Dear educators,
— Alexiis, Eric, Erin, Karamjit, Kelly, Tammy
Thank you for dedicating your professional lives to building the next generation. In doing so you play an integral role in shaping society. Yet, too many of us were taught that this profession was about the transmission of content, content rooted in whiteness, erasures and single narratives. We’re writing this letter because of who we believe we can be together and because we believe in the power of educators in this community. We’re sending love and appreciation to Indigenous, Black, and racialized educators for the relentless tenacity and patience. Thank you for your strength and continued efforts for change, in spite of the oppression you face within our educational system.
“Justice is what love looks like in public.” Cornel West reminds us ofthis, and yet, we still need to ask ourselves: how are you showing up as an anti-racist for students, transforming and redesigning your practice and pedagogy to affirm every identity – especially those of Indigenous, Black and racialized students? We’ve seen Indigenous and equity webinars filled to the brim this year, bountiful reading lists and posts and reposts on social media and we know we can’t stay in a performative place.Taking action is how love shows up and enables change.
We invite you to imagine a love letter from the future, written by your students. What would it look like, sound like and feel like if you committed to building an education system that decenters whiteness, fosters a truly equitable learning environment – one that affirms every identity in the classroom, school and community? One where students learn about their lived experience, the true history of their ancestors? Where the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action and the United Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are actually taken and are brought into our every day? Where students are thinking and speaking in their many languages and are celebrated for it? Where coming from a different country is seen as an asset and not a deficit? Where adults in the school represent the students and community?
This future love letter will only come with action today. There are some who have become accomplices, are taking action and changing pedagogy on a day to day basis. This future love letter writes itself only with our individual and collective action for Indigenous Rights and Human Rights by holding ourselves and each other accountable.
Don’t stop now.
What line will you write today?
