On February 21, 2023, WCDSB Vice-Principal Lorraine Harris was present at the Ontario Legislature where she accepted a special certificate of recognition for development of “My Place in this World”, a new Ontario school curriculum that celebrates Black Heritage.

It is recognized as the first year-round Black Heritage Curriculum that is aligned with Provincial standards.

The Guelph Black Heritage Society – led by WCDSB’s Denise Francis – -was an integral collaborator/ contributor, especially in doing research for the project.

The award sponsored and presented by Cambridge MPP Brian Riddell.

Following presentation of the certificate, Lorraine was honoured to meet with Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce.

The Ministry of Education will be reviewing the curriculum to decide the next steps in bringing this resource to more schools in the Province.

About My Place in this World

My Place in this World celebrates Black Heritage. Rather than starting and ending with the slavery narrative and oppression, this innovative curriculum provides a wealth of information, activities, assignments, and assessments that recognize the vast contributions of people from the mother continent.

My Place in this World is for all students, but particularly for our Black students in Canada.  It disrupts the negative effects of post-traumatic slavery syndrome plaguing Black youth and it fosters pride, a sense of belonging, and most importantly, hope.

My Place in this World:

  • Celebrates Black Heritage;
  • Ends the slavery narrative and oppression;
  • Disrupts the negative effects of post-traumatic slavery syndrome plaguing Black youth;
  • Is an innovative curriculum;
  • Provides a wealth of information, activities, assignments, and assessments that recognizes the vast contributions of people from the mother continent Africa; and,
  • Fosters pride, a sense of belonging, and most importantly, hope.

My Place in this World +++++++> VIDEO

www.myplaceinthisworld.ca

Twitter: @MyplaceinthisW1

Instagram: @myplaceinthisworld

Email: lorraine@myplaceinthisworld.ca

Why should we use a Black curriculum in schools?

In Ontario, nearly one out of every 15 young Black men experienced jail time, compared to one out of 70 young White men — THAT is a disparity of more than four times.

  • 94% of Black youth aged 15 to 25 said that they would like to get a bachelor’s degree or higher; only 60% thought that they could.
  • 53% of Black students were in academic programs as compared to 81% of White and 80% of other racialized students.
  • Getting inside the “root” of the achievement and opportunity gap is how we begin to achieve equity for all.

What does the curriculum look like?

The activities are:

  • Engaging and easy for teachers to follow;
  • Cross-curricular ( math, language, science, history, drama skills, etc.);
  • Linked to the Ontario curriculum and learning outcomes; and,
  • Positive and support Mental Health and Wellness for all students, particularly Black students.

The students are:

  • Immediately hooked by the videos, art, poetry, songs, essays, and discussion questions that are grade-level appropriate.
  • Asked to make real world connections to current Black leaders and role-models as the curriculum progresses across grade levels.