CPAC Institute Study Finds East and Southeast Asian Canadian Experiences Largely Absent from Ontario Curriculum
Based on a province-wide survey of Grade 7-12 public school educators and administrators, along with 36 in-depth interviews, the study identifies systemic barriers, biases, and operational challenges that hinder the inclusion of ESAC histories and contemporary experiences. Key findings include:
Limited Inclusion: ESAC experiences are inconsistently represented in teaching, policies, and school practices, often reduced to superficial mentions or omitted altogether.
Misconceptions and Operational Gaps: A limited awareness of ESAC issues, Eurocentric teaching perspectives, and operational constraints, including a lack of resources and training, persist across the education system.
Institutional Issues: Minimal attention from the Ministry of Education and school boards to anti-Asian racism has left educators underprepared. Incidents of anti-Asian racism often go unaddressed, and ESAC educators remain underrepresented in leadership positions.
"Anti-Asian racism remains one of the most overlooked forms of racism," said Helen Cao, President of CPAC. "Integrating ESAC experiences into the curriculum is critical to advancing equity, combating stereotypes, and developing critical thinking among students."
Titled Footnote in the Story: Fragmented and Marginalized Inclusion of East and Southeast Asian Canadian Experiences in Ontario Curriculum, the study calls for urgent action, including amending the Ontario Anti-Racism Act to recognize anti-Asian racism, mandating the teaching of ESAC history in schools, expanding teacher training, and increasing ESAC representation in education leadership.
The CPAC Institute is an independent research, education and training organization that provides research-based insights and solutions on issues important to Chinese Canadians, with a focus on advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion.
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Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
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Toronto Star
4 hours ago
- Toronto Star
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Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
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It reports on basin activities that affect transboundary river flows, water quality, and ecosystem health in the Red River and its tributaries. Convincing U.S. politicians that mega-barns are too risky will be a challenge under President Donald Trump who has rolled back environmental regulations, Beddome said. Jenny Schlect, Agweek Madeline Luke, ag committee volunteer for Dakota Resource Council, holds a jar containing cattle waste and water that she mixed to represent potential contamination from large-scale dairy operations during a rally in Bismarck, N.D. Thursday. 'We're less confident of our ability to influence, but doing nothing is not an option, either.' — with files from Jenny Schlect, Agweek Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
