Rethinking Spaces of Education

Every day on the way from school, my younger sister never hesitates to tell me the day's adventures in grade five at her public school. I took more interest than usual one day when she told me about an upcoming project on “social injustice”, with a focus on race relations. I immediately thought back to my grade five days in public school, where I remember studying little, if any, material that was similar to this. Despite this nostalgic thought, it was not a great surprise, considering the constantly changing trends in education. One such change is being proposed in Ontario's high schools, as a gender studies course is being added to the curriculum. The intent here is to improve understanding of gender identity in an environment where this is treated with little regard. Some of the topics to be discussed here include gender in the media, homosexuality, and transgender issues, among others. It is refreshing to see proof that students can think more critically about the ways of society, whether in university, high school, or elementary school. True, it is important to learn grammar, mathematics and all the other staples of a high school education; it is more important still that people are open to new ideas previously unexplored, especially within the public school system. Not only will this prepare them for the road ahead, but it can also help the individual gain a deeper understanding of themselves and those around them. The only thing to determine now is whether the majority students will be comfortable with the subjects being covered, and if all goes well, this initiative – like my sister's social injustice assignment – will definitely not be “just another class”.

Story ("Gender Studies Coming to a High School Near You") comes from Torontoist, November 19, 2009.