Staff at the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) are undergoing training that identifies the term “family” as a potentially harmful concept linked to white supremacy, according to a report by Juno. The training also flags terms such as “objectivity” and “perfectionism” as characteristics of “Whiteness.”Juno obtained internal training materials presented to staff at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. These materials reportedly assert that certain everyday terms and concepts uphold white supremacy.One training slide, quoting from Culturally Relevant Pedagogy by Laura Mae Lindo, claims that “biases are the socialized teachings of the white culture.” It further states, “we use key words and phrases to promote the dominant culture.” Among the words identified as problematic is “family.” .The training material suggests the term is harmful to racialized students because it implies male authority, demands unquestioning obedience, and erodes personal boundaries by “prioritizing the family’s needs.”The training also reportedly suggests that asking for evidence when claims of racism are made, or acknowledging racism experienced by white individuals, is a “characteristic of whiteness” that needs to be dismantled. Another slide, quoting from White Women: Everything you already know about your own racism and how to do better, states, “The pain and hurt and discomfort are not ancillary to antiracism work, they are the guts of it. Without them, change simply does not happen.”The WRDSB’s 2024 workforce census showed that 90% of its staff are white, and 79% are women.An anonymous source within the board, who reportedly provided the materials to True North, expressed doubt about whether the training’s message aligns with the views of most staff members. .“Teachers just want to get on with their job of teaching,” the source told True North. “Ideology — if you will — is just something many teachers acknowledge as being present. They just want to get on with their jobs.”The source also mentioned a climate of caution among staff, noting they were advised to “be careful” when sharing information with outsiders. They pointed to the case of Ontario teacher Chanel Pfahl, who faced an investigation by the Ontario College of Teachers after publicly criticizing anti-racism education. “Whether [anyone within the administration] believes it or not is anyone’s guess,” the source added..Further training slides reportedly advocate for “BIPOC affinity groups.” These are described as exclusive, invitation-only spaces for staff or students who do not identify as white. The materials justify the confidential nature of these groups by claiming the broader school culture is unwelcoming to racial minorities. Despite their private operation, these groups are mentioned in WRDSB board meeting minutes and equity reports as indicators of institutional progress.The Ontario Ministry of Education endorses culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy, which the Juno report describes as the applied form of critical race theory (CRT). This approach is not taught as a separate subject but is intended as a political framework to filter all classroom instruction through the lenses of identity, power, and systemic oppression. .The Ministry’s Equity Action Plan mandates the integration of culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy across all subjects.Stephen Reich, a PhD student in educational leadership and policy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, told Juno that the concept of “whiteness” is directly borrowed from CRT. Reich, whose research focuses on the politicization of education, stated there is no experimental evidence showing that anti-racist teaching methods reduce discrimination. Reich argued these approaches can “create bias where none previously existed.”Reich also noted a lack of evidence that “anti-oppression education narrows learning gaps.” .Reich added that limited studies attempting to measure benefits have found such programs primarily “make students more fluent in anti-oppression language — nothing more.”The WRDSB has previously denied incorporating CRT into its programming. In June 2022, Trustee Cindy Watson put forward a motion calling for a report on the use of CRT in lesson plans. “There is much confusion from parents and staff around CRT and white privilege,” Watson stated during the board meeting. “The confusion is breeding concerns, sharing concerns leads to fear of being judged or being labelled a racist, and judgment will ultimately always bring division.” .WRDSB staff responded at the time that CRT was not part of the curriculum, and the motion was defeated.In line with some anti-racist hiring approaches, the WRDSB hosted a job fair on March 23 specifically for “Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals.” The board stated the rationale was to ensure that students “see themselves reflected in the education system.”The WRDSB does not currently have a formal anti-racism policy, though one is reportedly under consultation. The board aims to complete this policy by Fall 2025.
