Posted on 08/24/2017 7:00:42 AM PDT by dccomix
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario is pushing to remove the name of Canadas first prime minister from a handful of schools across the province in an effort to create a "safer" learning environment.
What’s his name?
Safer for learning what?
John MacDonald but he didn’t own slaves
From the article:
“The ETFO said using Sir John A. Macdonalds name creates an unsafe environment for kids to learn and work in because Macdonald was a supporter of residential schools back in the 1800s.”
?? So the teacher's union is going back for more than a century to get at someone who was in favor of 'home schooling'! Then again the term of 'residential schools' may be a code term for something different from what it appears.
Otherwise it is hard to find where he has been 'controversial' except for changes in accepted mores over time, ie expansion into native lands, treatment of Qubec armed rebellion etc. If so, then his statues may be in danger up there.
Oh gawd, I can’t wait for Canada-based Rebel Media to rip this story to confetti and smaller pieces on their YouTube channel. :-)
From the Canadian Encyclopedia:
“Residential schools were government-sponsored religious schools established to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture.”
Quite apart from this issue, Macdonald was a colourful character: an alcoholic, he once publicly vomited in the House of Commons, claiming “It’s not drink that makes me sick but the rantings of my honourable opponent!”.
He later ordered the execution of Louis Riel, the leader of a Metis rebellion against Canadian rule, resigned from office due to the Pacific Scandal (he awarded a lucrative railway contract to a construction company from whom he demanded a large sum of money) and was then re-elected Prime Minister.
In the video accompanying the story he is burned in effigy by protesters!
Excellent points, and thank you for your recommendation - sounds like a worthwhile read.
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I did not know that.
For those who through ignorance, stupidity or malice can't distinguish making news from reporting it, that question matters. The "news" quality of the question, actually is "why?"
If the subject is deemed a "problem," and you have to ask, you, sir, are deemed part of the problem.
The new journalism, for decades, now.
That's only one definition.
An equally valid one, not inconsistent with the original definition posted : Residential schools were government-sponsored schools established to introduce ALL children to the ethics and morals needed to function in modern, civilized societies and cultures.
There is no conflict with the presence or absence of actual religions, except ONE.
Which, to their eternal damnation, our Founding Fathers deemed too unnecessary or too obvious to define.
The negatives: separated children from their parents, kinship network and culture for extended periods of time, intentionally effaced native languages and the transmission of native cultural and religious traditions.
The positives: separated children from extremely unsafe environments (childhood mortality rates "back home" exceeded 50%), saved children from native cultures which featured extreme cruelty, slavery and misogyny, introduced children into participation in the wider civilization, made their survival and (arguably) their peoples' survival possible.
So, a mixed bag.
Now it is non-PC to refer to it as anything other than "cultural genocide."
This may be a good time and place to express my strong opinion:
Teachers in ANY school must be deemed domestic terrorists and enemies of the State, and dismissed if they introduce "Personal politics" or psychological mental problems into their teaching.
Nor did I! I guess it’s something they didn’t feel was important in our history lessons.
It sounds more to me like it’s our turn to find a reason to join in the bringing down of the west. Plain and simple.
My mother was born in Northern Alberta,during the period of residential schools. She had to walk, one way, 5 miles.
There were few options to help bring natives forward. The only thing I can think that might have helped was putting them in residential schools when they are ten years old and giving a slightly accelerated program to ensure a reasonable timely graduation.
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