After seeing examples and researching information about black history I noticed for choices of history we only have history, Indigenous Studies and psychology but no Black history class? History gets deeper and further the higher the class and sometimes school divisions are lenient as to where teachers can write and propose their own material, this can differentiate every class that does this but there's still no guarantee that us students will get to learn about the history of black discrimination but more indigenous and European topics.

According to edweek.org many seniors who actually have access to a black history course have almost all told the author of the article when asked about why they took it and why it might matter to them that it was more personally impactful and connective because they were not learning about a countries history but their own and where they came from. Another senior named Mackenzie also implied that she has felt since middle school that the history of their ancestors and almost everything that has happened over the past 400 years isn't ever taught as “extensively”, ”accurately” or as “in depth” as it could be, these were my exact same thoughts I had when I came to this idea which really made me happy and more inclined to advocate for this.

This really made me think “has this never crossed anyone's mind?!” but then I thought about all of the people who have either tried or have thought about it without thinking they couldn't do anything.

My name is Jack Goring and I am a student in grade 11 at the Warman High School. I am writing this petition not as an assignment but to hope for change as well as spread my thoughts/thinking to many others who have felt equally or more conflicted than myself. As many of you know, history 30 here in Saskatchewan follows Canadian history and that's common within most provinces, especially Ontario. Big or small changes can be difficult regardless of the context and the OPSBA (Ontario Public School Boards Association) has taken that into account and have started slowly but surely advocating for an “enhancement” to their curriculum by adding black history courses. 

This school division has been pushing this since 2022 when the Black Trustees Caucus was formed whilst stating that “we need to know our country's heritage” also that Black history is Canadian history, but the reason I'm so fired up about this is because they are right and black history matters in schools. The black history society of Ontario ran a study of the knowledge that their students had and they found out less than 10% of students learn about black history past slavery. Why it's so important is it fills the gaps that Canadian and European history might leave, it encourages more kids to learn about their history and it would 100% lead to or promote extra advocacy and awareness.

The extraordinary thing about advocating/teaching people is that anyone can spread awareness or help a cause without even leaving your house and it can be so easy that teenagers and even kids can do something.

Here's what you can do to help!

Sign this petition and make it more visible as issues like this tend to get left untreated or not cared about when it affects a vast majority of people who live here on our planet and within our communities, people like you and me. Spreading awareness during times of advocacy such as meetings, events and even recognizing February as the month of black history. Educate others such as peers, parents and as a giant step if it gains enough traction try to push it to your school division and through teachers as a chance for your voice to be heard. Anything helps when it comes to issues like these and at the very least you can donate to a charity such as The Ontario Black History Society as mentioned before, they are a great non-profit organization located within Toronto and they are amazing at what they do.