As a secondary school administrator in Burnaby, BC, I’ve had extensive experience with students and their families from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. Some experiences have been humorous, some uplifting, and some disappointing.
On the positive side, I’ve been able to help steer families to needed community resources and have been the recipient of expressed gratitude by people who are thankful to be here in Canada, undertaking a new life as individuals or families. On the negative side, I have inappropriately been called a ‘racist’ for helping people navigate the established guidelines and regulations of public education in British Columbia. Continue reading
When my son was in grade 1, the teacher asked if the Jewish children in the class would like to sing a Chanukah song at the upcoming seasonal party. They enthusiastically agreed, including my son. When my son reported this to me, I asked him who in the class was Jewish. He mentioned his good buddy: blue-eyed, blonde Mark with-the-very-Scottish-surname. I thought that was very cute – Mark pretending to be Jewish, likely in order to hang with his buddy, my son.