TDSB votes to replace Grade 11 English course with course highlighting Indigenous voices

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) recently voted to replace the compulsory Grade 11 English course with a course titled Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices. The course is designed to focus on the literary, oral, media, and cultural texts of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples while also preparing students for the Grade 12 English course. “This fulfills the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action 63.1: make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, treaties, and Aboriginal people’s historic and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for kindergarten to grade 12 students,” said student trustee Isaiah Shafqat, who is Two-Spirit Mi’kmaq and Loon clan. TDSB staff are currently preparing a report on the gradual implementation of the course that is expected to be shared in June.