PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF GENOCIDE CURRICULUM BY TDSB As the Turkish/Turkic speaking parents of students attending the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), we are deeply concerned about the negative impact of the current curriculum module on “Armenian Genocide” and the learning resources adopted by the Board since 2008. The textbook on the Genocide of the Armenians and other readers, such as Barbara Coloroso’s Extraordinary Evil, unremittingly discredits one community’s narrative over the other; and, adversely affects the students of TDSB with Turkish and Turkic heritages. Furthermore, the references made to the “genocide against Armenians, Assyrians and Pontian Greeks” in the context of the Genocide Awareness Week (March 6, 2013) reflects only the claims of selective communities while excluding the narratives containing the Turkish/Turkic perspectives. We firmly believe that the values of mutual respect, understanding and peaceful coexistence can be achieved through an honest and open dialogue on history. Moreover, fair and unprejudiced learning should be based on historical facts and not solely on the narratives of select communities while ignoring others. It should also be noted that there are no court decisions on any of these historical claims and the opinions of historians differ regarding the details and the definitions of these events. Education is the most powerful instrument of change. This change can be both positive and negative. The long-term effects of an unbalanced curriculum that labels our community as “extraordinary evil” and excludes the Turkish/Turkic narratives will have irreversible consequences on the psyches of our children. In other words, vilification, being a public act that incites individuals to hate a person or group of people because of their heritage, if unchecked, leads to animosity, resentments and contempt directed to our children by their peers and teachers; subsequently, jeopardizing their real and potential safety. We are anxious about the long-term and cumulative effects of these sentiments, which would often result in ridiculing, intimidating, and bullying of our innocent children while causing injury to them physically and psychologically. Instead of growing up with positive self-perceptions and acquiring confidence about their roles as productive Canadian citizens in their country of choice; they are forced to be ashamed of their culture and heritage while facing discrimination and bullying as a result of the TDSB’s policy and practice. This is contrary to the fundamental Canadian principles of personal safety, inclusivity, equity, peace and social justice. We are steadfast in our beliefs that it is the legal and moral responsibility of the Board to act in a manner that upholds the principles of creating and sustaining “safe, equitable and inclusive schools”, in line with the praise-worthy multicultural fabric of Canada. As the Concerned Parents of students with Turkish and Turkic heritages, we request the following from the TDSB: 1. Removal of the “Armenian Genocide” module from the TDSB curriculum, as there isn’t any internationally recognized court decision with regards to this event; and/or modification of the syllabus by including the Turkish/Turkic narratives, which is supported by relevant textbooks and readers. 2. Exclusion of the wording used in the decision made by the TDSB on March 6, 2013, regarding the historical claims made about the “genocide of Armenians, Assyrians and Pontian Greeks. Name Signature Postal Code Number of Children in TDSB
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 06:52:03 +0000
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