Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Art Silk Printed Saree Buy Now
Kate Spade Kiya Sunglasses Buy Now
Michael Kors Crossbody Bag for Women Buy Now
BZB Women's Ribbed Tank Tops Buy Now
Lace Up Loafers Shoes Buy Now
High-Waisted Workout Leggings Buy Now
5-Pack Dry Fit T-Shirts Buy Now
Men's Polo Shirts Buy Now
Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy Buy Now
Two-Button Tweed Sport Coat Buy Now
KUYIGO Mens Henley T-Shirts Buy Now
Classic Quartz Resin Casual Watch Buy Now
Straight Leg Jeans for Women Buy Now
Tangle-Free Jump Rope for Fitness Buy Now
Steel Toe Lightweight Shoes Buy Now
Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Hoodie Buy Now
Women's Satin Pajama Set Buy Now
Gildan Cotton T-Shirt Pack, Style G2000 Buy Now
Mens Fashion Henley Shirt Classic Buy Now
Slim Fit Ripped Skinny Jeans Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
'Significant shift' coming to ESL programs to end systemic racism, Peel board says

'Significant shift' coming to ESL programs to end systemic racism, Peel board says

CBC
Sunday, May 8, 2022 8:12 AM GMT

One of Greater Toronto's largest school boards says its making "significant changes" to end discriminatory practices in its English as a Second Language program.

The Peel District School Board (PDSB) says it is following through on directives from the Ministry of Education aimed at ending systemic racism, increasing communication with families about the ESL process and making other improvements to its program.

One of those improvements, the board says, is "translanguaging." According to a description online, it's an approach where multilingual students can take notes in their mother tongue while learning a lesson in English, for example. Or they can speak both languages interchangeably in class to understand a subject.  

"This is a significant shift," Rasulan Hoppie, the board's superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, told CBC News. 

"More of our educators are having a better understanding of using the language, using the pieces of [students'] identity to their strength and to their benefit."

Changes are long overdue, according to students in the PDSB. The news comes after a CBC Toronto story in which students took part in a panel discussion about the racism and discrimination they face in the board's schools. One of them, Lidia Tewodros, spoke of being forced to take ESL — even though she already spoke the language well.

Tewodros, a Grade 11 student, said when she arrived with her family from Ethiopia, she was placed in an ESL class at her school in Brampton, Ont. She was in Grade 3 at the time.

"They kept insisting to put me in ESL, even though I was excelling in English class and had a high reading level," she said.

"But because of my accent, and because I was an immigrant, they were like, 'No, she can't speak; she has to go into ESL.'"

Tewodros said she couldn't think of any other explanation aside from discrimination.

Since CBC News broadcast the panel discussion with Tewodros and three other PDSB students, several readers and viewers from Peel Region have commented about having similar experiences — or knowing someone else who was placed in ESL classes despite speaking English fluently.

The PDSB says it's aware of the issue and says it's determined to resolve it. The board says while the Ministry of Education's list of directives to combat racism and discrimination doesn't specifically mention ESL, many of the the directives — including destreaming and equity audits — include changes that would improve its ESL program.

"What we want to be doing in the PDSB is making sure that what has happened to Lidia and may have happened to other students is no longer happening," said Donna Ford, the board's superintendent of Indigenous education, anti-racism, anti-oppression and community partnerships.

"Those directives are about changing practice," she said. "Pointing to practices such as what Lidia has experienced, and saying that's no longer okay."

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Jasper to commemorate 1 year since wildfire decimated townsite

Nancy Addison is still waiting for a house to come home to, one year after a wildfire raged through Jasper, Alta.

How app upgrades are helping Toronto police do more bail compliance checks

There's an app for that — even to help monitor people on bail in Ontario.

Fire at Wellington waste facility extinguished before it could worsen

A fire at a waste facility in Wellington, P.E.I., on Saturday could have been much worse than it turned out to be.

Albertans drinking way less booze than they used to, lead the country in cannabis sales

It's been well documented by now that Canadians are drinking less than they used to, but no other province has seen a greater reduction than Alberta.

Premiers, prime minister to meet ahead of U.S.-Canada trade deadline

Canada's premiers are kicking off a three-day summit in Ontario's cottage country at a time of heightened anxiety over tariffs and trade with Canada's closest trading partner, the United States. 

U.S. commerce secretary dismisses question that free trade with Canada is dead

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is dismissing the question of whether U.S. free trade with Canada is dead, calling the notion "silly" and saying a substantial amount of Canadian goods enter the U.S. tariff-free under the current North American free trade deal.

This grizzly followed a Calgary couple along a popular trail until they finally roared at it

Howard Mah and Lori Arnason had never seen a wild grizzly until Saturday.

Canadian girl, 9, reported missing by father found dead in N.Y., state police say

Police in New York state say they have found a nine-year-old Canadian girl who was reported missing in northeastern New York dead. 

Teen, 14, arrested in fatal stabbing of woman in North York parking lot: police

A 14-year-old has been arrested in the fatal stabbing of a woman in a North York parking lot last Thursday, Toronto police say. 

Following in his dad's footsteps, Kamloops baseball player selected in MLB draft

It's been a big week for Tyrelle Chadwick. 

This Tlingit artist has taught 2,000 people to make bentwood boxes. She plans to keep going

Joanne Williams estimates she's taught 2,000 people how to make bentwood boxes.

Family of Montreal woman detained by ICE for over 3 months living a 'nightmare'

Paula Callejas, a Montreal native, was trying to expand her swimsuit business in Florida after taking time off to take care of her ailing father in Canada before his death.

Cars keep getting more expensive but Albertans are still buying plenty — before tariffs really bite

Across Alberta, more people are buying new vehicles even as prices have been shooting up.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
New Metrolinx CEO eligible for potential 6-figure bonus

Metrolinx's new CEO will make less than his controversial predecessor, but could be eligible for an annual performance bonus of more than six figures.

Permit revoked for MAGA musician's concert at Parks Canada historic site

Parks Canada says a U.S. singer and rising star in the MAGA movement will not perform at a national historic site near Halifax after the federal agency revoked the organizer's permit.

Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got'įnę celebrates self-government agreement with events this week in Norman Wells, N.W.T.

The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got'įnę in Norman Wells, N.W.T., is this week celebrating the ratification of a self-government agreement, with music, games and community gatherings.

Why Danielle Smith has eased off the 'Kill Bill C-69' language in the Carney era

Premier Danielle Smith wasn't doing anything politically revolutionary when she demanded the repeal of Ottawa's environmental assessments act during the federal election campaign. Then she demanded it again, many times, when the Conservatives who promised to do so lost and the Mark Carney Liberals won.

Hoping to book an affordable Canadian vacation this summer? Sorry and good luck

Whether you're camping under the stars, jumping off the dock at a lakeside cottage, strolling the coast or exploring a new city, there's arguably nothing better than a summer vacation in Canada.

Changes coming to the way IWMC manages western P.E.I. landfill following fire

P.E.I.'s Island Waste Management Corporation is making some changes to how it manages its Wellington landfill.

Toronto musicians pay tribute to Black Sabbath frontman and 'lord of metal' Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne, legendary frontman of the rock band Black Sabbath, "opened doors" for people who wanted to play heavy metal, Toronto musicians said following news of his death.

Ford praises Carney after late-night fireside chats at Muskoka cottage

It may not be the sunny ways government, but some premiers certainly seem to be feeling sunny about the future.

'Devon has a firearm': Woman's statement for restraining order details fear of ex, now accused of her murder

The ex-boyfriend of a Calgary woman fatally shot in a parking garage over the weekend has been charged with her murder, 53 days after the victim told a judge that she lived in fear after months of being stalked and harassed.

Carney to visit his hometown of Fort Smith, N.W.T., on Wednesday

Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit his hometown of Fort Smith, N.W.T., on Wednesday — his first official visit to the territory since he was elected.

Ottawa's major projects law won't affect the N.W.T. much, premier says

N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson says he expects Bill C-5, passed into law last month as the federal Building Canada Act, to have a limited effect in the territory.

Republican senator says Trump's 51st state rhetoric not 'constructive' during Ottawa visit

A U.S. Republican senator says she doesn't think President Donald Trump's past comments about making Canada the 51st state are helpful as the two countries are locked in negotiations to reach some sort of trade agreement.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us