HomeMy WebLinkAboutAlberta Education Minister apologizes after online course asks about ‘positive effect’ of residential schools - Globe & Mail - 09/20/2018 - Globe & Mail - 09/20/20189/21/2018 Alberta Education Minister apologizes after online course asks about `positive effect' of residential schools - The Globe and Mail
Alberta Education Minister apologizes after online
course asks about `positive effect' of residential schools
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Alberta's Education Minister apologized Thursday after learning an online social
studies course asked students about the positive effects of residential schools.
Students were asked: "A positive effect of residential schools was?" The four
multiple choice options listed were: that children were away from home, they
learned to read, they became civilized and they were taught manners.
The question prompted a complaint from a student taking the course from the St.
Paul Alternative Education Centre. A photo of the question was posted online
Wednesday and was met with outrage.
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"It's such an offensive matter," Education Minister David Eggen said Thursday after
an event in Bon Accord, Alta. "For this kind of material to still be floating around in
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9/21/2018 Alberta Education Minister apologizes after online course asks about `positive effect' of residential schools - The Globe and Mail
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"The legacy of residential schools is a dark period in our history, and we must
journey together toward reconciliation," said Eggen. "It is vital that this take place in
a way that honours and brings awareness to the experiences of residential school
survivors."
The student did not immediately respond to an interview request.
The Grade 11 social studies course is advertised as exploring topics including First
Nations, the development of modern-day Canada and Canada's cultural diversity.
Glen Brodziak, superintendent of the St. Paul Education Regional Division, issued an
apology on the school website.
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9/21/2018 Alberta Education Minister apologizes after online course asks about `positive effect' of residential schools - The Globe and Mail
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that we are deeply sorry," said Brodziak.
He said it's unfortunate that teachers didn't catch the reference while reviewing the
material handed out to students.
"At the end of the day, I still take responsibility but it was a pre-packaged course
that is available today. You could sign up for this course today and it would be
there," he said.
"The principal has reached out to the family. We've also reached out to the four First
Nations that we serve."
The director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Winnipeg said
he's not surprised that a question like that could still pop up. Ry Moran said there
are still plenty of Canadians "clinging to the hope that this was generally a well-
intentioned system that had a few bad apples."
"The evidence runs completely contrary to that though," Moran said.
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About 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children were taken from their families
and forced to attend government schools. The last school closed outside Regina in
7 -
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9/21/2018 Alberta Education Minister apologizes after online course asks about `positive effect' of residential schools - The Globe and Mail
"The other thing that's really important as well is recognizing that question could be
very harmful, could be very hurtful to people whose family members attended those
residential schools."
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9/21/2018 Alberta Education Minister apologizes after online course asks about `positive effect' of residential schools - The Globe and Mail
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