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This website gives resources and lesson ideas for students of all ages to educate about racism and how they can end it.

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Understanding how school discipline policies can contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline is essential for educators and families. Harsh punishments, automatic out-of-class time and police involvement for discipline can push young people out of classrooms and into the criminal legal system. But educators, parents and caregivers can help to change this harmful system by advocating for and implementing practices that prioritize mental health and well-being.

We offer this new resource page that highlights LFJ articles and content to open dialogue, shift practices and foster change to benefit all young people.

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Learning for Justice | Education Resources

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Learning for Justice provides free resources to educators-teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners-who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants.

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The Ontario Government released this article that claims they are taking 'bold action', which we should see starting to happen in this new school year.

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Published on July 09, 2020

New Changes to Advance Equal Opportunity for Black, Indigenous and Racialized Students

TORONTO - The Ontario government announced bold new changes to the education system that will help break down barriers for Black, Indigenous and racialized students and provide all students with an equal opportunity to succeed. As part of this action, the province will move forward with ending Grade 9 streaming into applied and academic courses, proposing to eliminate discretionary suspensions for students, strengthening sanctions for teachers who engage in behaviour of a racist nature, and providing teachers with additional anti-racism and anti-discrimination training.

Details were provided today by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, and Jamil Jivani, Ontario's Advocate for Community Opportunities.

"To help our young people reach their full potential, we have to start earlier to create equal opportunity for them, whether that's reforming suspensions for primary grades or ending the practice of streaming for Grade 9 students," said Premier Ford. "Above all, our government will not tolerate racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, Islamophobia or hate in any form in our schools. Through these initiatives to promote equality in education, we will ensure students from all walks of life are set up for lifelong success."

Through Bill 197, COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020, the government is proposing to eliminate discretionary suspensions for students from kindergarten up to Grade 3, beginning September 2020. Serious offences will still be subject to mandatory suspensions. The latest suspension data from 2018-19 shows that over 65,000 elementary and secondary students in Ontario were suspended during that school year.

Starting in September 2021, the government will begin the process of ending Grade 9 streaming into applied and academic courses. Currently, students enrolled in applied-level courses have multiple negative outcomes and limited opportunities for post-secondary advancement.

"Every student ― irrespective of the colour of their skin, faith, heritage, and orientation ― deserves every opportunity to succeed in the classroom," said Minister Lecce. "The transformational change we are driving forward will embolden a generation of students and unleash their full potential, absent the systemic barriers that hold them back. To racialized students in Ontario: we see you, and we value you. We will stand with all students on this journey to advance respect, dignity, and opportunity."

As part of its plan to end early streaming, the government will introduce a new foundational Grade 9 math course for September 2021 and will work with school boards as they transition students into a de-streamed Grade 9 math program. The de-streaming of the Grade 9 math curriculum is the first step towards further de-streaming in other curriculum areas, which will better support all students in having every opportunity to pursue the pathway of their choice after their K-12 education.

"We must recognize that today's changes are the result of our government and community members working together," said Jamil Jivani, Ontario's Advocate for Community Opportunities. "In particular, parents in Ontario's Black communities have been a powerful voice for change, providing their unique insights in how suspensions and streaming have disadvantaged black students. Thank you to every parent and community leader who engaged with us in this process."

To ensure students feel accepted in a discrimination-free classroom, the government will be strengthening sanctions for teachers who engage in behaviour of a racist nature. Over the last 23 years, the Ontario College of Teachers reports that there have been 32 instances of teacher discipline for racist or homophobic behavior or remarks.

The Ministry of Education has also proposed additional anti-racism and anti-discrimination training before the end of the calendar year. The government is currently consulting with teachers' federations, education workers' unions, and trustees' associations on the implementation of this critical initiative.

more details at https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/07/ontario-taking-bold-action-to-address-racism-and-inequity-in-schools-1.html

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Ontario Taking Bold Action to Address Racism and Inequity in Schools

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Published on July 09, 2020 New Changes to Advance Equal Opportunity for Black, Indigenous and Racialized Students TORONTO - The Ontario government announced bold new changes to the education system that will help break down barriers for Black, Indigenous and racialized students and provide all students with an equal opportunity to succeed.

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This video is a great resource for teachers on what they can do in response to white supremacy in education.

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Dismantling White Supremacy in Education | Noelle Picara | TEDxYouth@UrsulineAcademy

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"Justice Requires and Accomplice" - Nita Mosby Tyler

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"Justice Requires and Accomplice" - Nita Mosby Tyler

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What if white people led the charge to end racism? | Dwinita Mosby Tyler | TEDxMileHigh

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This is a great video to show students about how even they are exposed to racism and white privilege. This concept has been done before with older people, but this video demonstrates that even children are affected by it.

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Heartbreaking Moment When Kids Learn About White Privilege | The School That Tried to End Racism

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This is an article about the fact that racism in schools doesn't disappear when you end streaming; the issue of racism in schools goes much deeper than that.

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At 11 years old, a Black girl new to the country from Jamaica, I was subject to streaming in my elementary school. Despite my strong academic performance in the past, I was moved into an extremely basic form of education in Canada. I was lucky that my family could advocate for me and a teacher intervened so I could rejoin the regular educational stream.

Years later, I experienced deja vu when my son's French teacher told me he couldn't keep up in her class and didn't belong there. I suggested she raise her expectations and work to build his success. He's since gone on to become a teacher himself. French is one of his core subjects.

In one sense, I'm glad to hear about Ontario's decision to end streaming in Grade 9 and address other discriminatory practices in schools. But it is simply not enough to turn the ever-rolling tide of systemic racism in the school system that has been decades in the making.

How will the province transition out of the ingrained practice of streaming in a way that doesn't leave marginalized students at the mercy of a system not designed for their success? Given the destructive impact of streaming on Black and Indigenous students and students from low-income communities, what effort will be made to work hand-in-hand with communities to make the transition out of streaming actually work?

Will the way we educate students change to eliminate bias and support a wider range of learning styles? Will there be an investment into anti-racist curricula? Will class size limits figure into it so that all students of all abilities can receive the attention they deserve? Will identity-based data collection be introduced to track successes and failures of the educational system for all students-including Black girls, 2SLGBTQI+ students, students with disabilities, and more-all with the goal of systemic performance improvement?

Streaming alone is not the issue. Neither are penalties for individual educators or an end to suspension of students between kindergarten and grade three. These discriminatory practices that disproportionately impact Black and Indigenous students are part of a broken colonial educational legacy. Not just in Ontario, but in regions all over Canada.

If governments don't invest in truly transformative academic reform, Canada's school systems will continue to hold students back from reaching their full potential.

My mind turns to Black girls, in particular. We don't do enough to cherish and nurture their brilliance. They "contend with the 'sexual stereotypes and perceptions of low educational aspirations and achievements' forced onto them," says Black Women in Canada, a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. "Education reform-based on research and evidence that centers and amplifies the experiences, voices and perspectives of Black girl-children and youth and employs an intersecting, anti-racist, anti-oppressive lens-is critical."

I also think about the fact that schools are one factor in our society's educational project for developing minds. Diverse families and communities are starving for broader investments so they can lift the potential of their young ones. For instance, the grassroots programs funded by the Canadian Women's Foundation have proven essential for girls to excel in school. These programs build confidence, strengthen girls' sense of cultural identity, and give them valuable mentorship opportunities. 75 per cent of girls who go through these programs feel more resilient; ninety-three per cent continue to feel empowered years later. Almost half say the programs boosted their school engagement.

Racist practices in schools must end, but we can't see the ultimate solution as a matter of minor adjustments. Nor can we leave it to pressed and stressed families to have to advocate for their children and youth in a deeply discriminatory system that their tax dollars are paying for.

Leaving things as they are, tweaking here and there, is a terrible set up for everyone. There are those who sit smugly in tweaks and are quick to blame students, families, and communities for the system's continued failures. We just can't accept this pattern anymore.

Stop streaming as we know it, yes. But the real problems and effective solutions to racism in our country's school systems run so much deeper.

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Ending racism in school isn't just about ending streaming

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At 11 years old, a Black girl new to the country from Jamaica, I was subject to streaming in my elementary school. Despite my strong academic performance in the past, I was moved into an extremely basic form of education in Canada. I was lucky that my family could advocate for me and a teacher [...]

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This is a great resource for tips on how to talk to children about race! Children as young as 3-6 months old begin to understand the idea of race, so it is important to start young and know what to discuss!

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EmbraceRace is a multiracial community dedicated to sharing and developing best practices for raising and caring for kids, all kids, in the context of race. We partnered with MomsRising - a transformative multicultural organization of more than a million members working to increase family economic security and end discrimination against women and mothers - to create these tips for our communities.

They are designed to help parents of all backgrounds talk to and guide their children about race early and often by lifting up age-appropriate activities that can be incorporated easily into your daily life. We hope these tips provide some much needed support for families committed to building tolerance, racial equity, and a social culture where all kids and families can thrive!

1) Start early.

By 6 months of age babies are noticing racial differences; by age 4, children have begun to show signs of racial bias.

Let your child know that it's perfectly okay to notice skin color and talk about race. Start talking about what racial differences mean and don't mean.

2) Encourage your child.

Encourage your child to ask questions, share observations and experiences, and be respectfully curious about race.

Expose your child to different cultural opportunities - photographs, films, books, or cultural events, for example - and discuss the experience afterwards.

You don't have to be an expert on race to talk with our child. Be honest about what you don't know and work with your child to find accurate information.

3) Be mindful.

What kids hear from us is less important than what they see us do.

You are a role model to your child. What you say is important, but what you do - the diversity of your friendship circle, for example - is likely to have a bigger impact.

If your child doesn't attend a diverse school, consider enrolling her in aer-school or weekend activities such as sports leagues that are diverse if you're able. Choose books and toys that include persons of different races and ethnicities. Visit museums with exhibits about a range of cultures and religions.

4) Face and know your own bias.

Let your child see you acknowledge and face your own biases.

We're less likely to pass on the biases we identify and work to overcome.

Give your child an example of a bias, racial or otherwise, that you hold or have held. Share with your child things you do to confront and overcome that bias.

5) Know and love who you are.

Talk about the histories and experiences of the racial, ethnic, and cultural groups you and your family identify with. Talk about their contributions and acknowledge the less flattering parts of those histories as well.

Tell stories about the challenges your family (your child's parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents and great grandparents, others) has faced and overcome.

6) Develop racial cultural literacy.

Develop racial cultural literacy by learning about and respecting others.

Study and talk about the histories and experiences of groups we call African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and whites, among others.

Be sure your child understands that every racial and ethnic group includes people who believe different things and behave in different ways . There is as much diversity within racial groups as across them.

7) Be honest.

Be honest with your child, in age-appropriate ways, about bigotry and oppression.

Children are amazing at noticing patterns, including racial patterns (who lives in their neighborhood versus their friends' neighborhoods, for example). Help them make sense of those patterns, and recognize that bigotry and oppression are sometimes a big part of those explanations.

Be sure your child knows that the struggle for racial fairness is still happening and that your family can take part in that struggle.

8) Tell stories.

"Lift up the freedom fighters ": Tell stories of resistance and resilience.

Every big story of racial oppression is also a story about people fighting back and "speaking truth to power." Teach your child those parts of the story too.

Include women, children and young adults among the "freedom fighters" in the stories you tell. A story about racial struggle in which all the heroes are men wrongly leaves many people out.

9) Be active.

Be active - don't be a "bystander" on race.

Help your child understand what it means to be, and how to be, a change agent.

Whenever possible, connect the conversations you're having to the change you and your child want to see, and to ways to bring about that change .

10) Plan for a marathon, not a sprint.

It's okay to say, "I'm not sure" or "Let's come back to that later, okay?" But then do come back to it.

Make race talks with your child routine. Race is a topic you should plan to revisit again and again in many different ways overtime.

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10 tips for teaching and talking to kids about race

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These tips are designed to help parents of all backgrounds teach and talk to their children about race early and often by lifting up age-appropriate activities that can be incorporated easily into your daily life.

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Here is another list of amazing books that can be used to teach racial literacy!

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Children's literature is driven by what schools, families, and libraries purchase. In my thirteen years in teaching, I've seen the deterioration of curriculum affecting racial literacy. This is caused by teachers and curriculum creators with increasingly limited power to determine what they're teaching and the resources they can draw from. The answer to implicit racism just might be in children's literature.

Teachers, that means if there is time to put pictures of flair pens and color coordinated art bins on Instagram, there is time to research how to break the system of racial inequality in the classroom.

If there is time to put pictures of flair pens and color coordinated art bins on Instagram, there is time to research how to break the system of racial inequality in the classroom. #equaled Click To Tweet

Dear White Teacher: Books Promoting Racial Literacy

Schools continue to purchase books that align with curriculum that is oftentimes created by outside agencies. When texts are predetermined, those in positions of power to purchase books for classrooms tend to stick to traditional children's literature. This leads to teachers maintaining this status quo.

We know 80% of teachers in America are White females. There is no way around it; white teachers are teaching black and brown kids through their white lens, myself included.

The solution is proactively asking questions and listening to people of color. Students, colleagues, professors, neighbors. But first, do the work yourself. Don't ask a person of color to do the emotional, mental, and academic labor for you.

There are no shortcuts to dismantling the systemic racism that pervades the education field. There are no excuses either. Our children's lives are at stake.

Crippled by Fear: Why Good Teachers Don't Speak Up

Most schools fail to act on racial microaggressions because the stress of negotiating such conflicts is extremely high due to fears of incompetence, public exposure, and accusation.

Instead of facing these conflicts head on, schools perpetuate a set of avoidance or coping strategies.

Pro Tip: Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) - National network of affiliated groups and individuals organizing White people for racial justice. You can also check out SURJ Families for resources targeted at White kids and families.

Within these groups, students, educators, and social service support staff will find workable strategies to improve their racial literacy skills to read, recast, and resolve racially stressful encounters when they happen.

Furthermore, Better Help is an excellent resource for information about signing up for therapy.

The Heavy Burden of Teaching Racial Equality

All families often turn to educators for suggestions about what to purchase to support their children as readers at home. The problem is that many teachers also have limited knowledge of the field of children's literature. And the lack of access to diverse books hurts ALL children, not just children of color.

Teachers also have few opportunities to engage in professional development that could increase their knowledge of what is available and which texts could tap into the identities and interests of their students.

So the burden is on the overworked, underpaid teachers who are stretched so thin it's ridiculous. Yes, sleepless nights from grading papers and purchasing school supplies with the last few dollars of your paycheck are huge obstacles. But not doing the work to fight institutional power is going to cost some children their lives.

And teachers, aren't we in the business of doing everything in our power to stop that from happening?

White Teachers Problems Are Not Trivial

White anxieties may seem trivial to some. After all, black and brown people are being shot and imprisoned and targeted for violence every day. So, many choose to ignore the "trivial" problems of white people.

However, The Perception Institute report explains that white anxieties are important. This is precisely because they contribute to these systemic racist outcomes.

White teachers who are anxious about appearing racist may be afraid to give students of color critical feedback, are setting them up for failure.

The same goes for medical care and other arenas. Doctors who are anxious about racial interactions may cut visits with black patients or patients of color short, which can (and does) result in lower quality health care.

In short, racial anxieties tend to compound further racial anxieties.

Instead, let's break the cycle of racism with our most powerful weapon that we use in the classroom everyday- one book at a time.

13 Must Read Books on Racial Literacy

Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools: Differences That Make a Difference by Howard C. Stevenson

Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

So you Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

What Makes White People Uncomfortable by Michael Bennett

When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by by Patrisse Khan-Cullors

Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique W. Morris {Grab the Pushout discussion guide as well}

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

White Awake: An Honest Look At What It Looks Like to Be White by Daniel Hill

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittany Cooper

What Truth Sounds Like: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America by Michael Eric Dyson

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson

Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do by Claude M. Steele

Press Articles to Read

How to Talk to your Kids About Donald Trump, Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, The Greater Good

Rubbing Off, Dr. Allison Brisoe-Smith, The Greater Good

Racial Progress is Real. But so is Racist Progress by Ibram X. Kendi, NY Times - A way to think about historical forces, progress and setbacks.

Similar Articles To Read on Racial Literacy
How to Talk About Racism in Classic Children's Books When Racial Bias is Taught Through Children's Literature The Anatomy of a Diverse Bookshelf Multiracial Children's Book Guide *this post contains affiliate links

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Dear White Teacher: 13 Books to Read on Racial Literacy - Biracial Bookworms LLC

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Children's literature is driven by what schools, families, and libraries purchase. In my thirteen years in teaching, I've seen the deterioration of curriculum affecting racial literacy. This is caused by teachers and curriculum creators with increasingly limited power to determine what they're teaching and the resources they can draw from.

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Read-alouds are a huge part of the Language Arts program in elementary schools. Here is a list of children's books that address the issues of race and racism, but are still student-friendly.

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children's books to support conversations on race, racism, and resistance - the conscious kid

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What's in a name? For one little girl, her very long name tells the vibrant story of where she came from - and who she may one day be. If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six!

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Watch this TEDTalk to hear about examples of how to close the heart and mind gaps of racial literacy. The presenters discuss bringing the racism of the past into the future by first teaching students about the repercussions that exist today.

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What it takes to be racially literate | Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo

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This is a great source for teachers to use in order to teach racial literature. They can use these terms to create a word-wall in the classroom.

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Racial Literacy: Key Terms — the conscious kid