Manitoba NDP says it would make Orange Shirt Day a statutory holiday if elected

Early in the school year is ideal for setting up anti-racist messaging and initiatives in schools.

September 30th is actually just about ideal for timing since it's long enough into the year that teachers should have established strong rapport with their students, and early enough in the year to have maximum leverage.

Come to think of it, I imagine it could tie in nicely with the Terry Fox Run, too, as a way of starting a "Canadian Issues" unit with something heavy but not controversial (cancer) and then moving on to confronting the realities of Canada's racist past and present.

Also, the origins of Orange Shirt Day was taking away Aboriginal identity metaphorically through the literal taking away of one child's favourite shirt at the start of school, so the timing near the start of the school year makes sense. It will have the most impact with children since they can fairly easily imagine the angst of not knowing how a new school year will go, and contrast their angst with the abuse of residential schools.

No offense, but June would be a terrible time for it; kids and teachers are the most checked out/burnt out then. It would have much less impact that late in the year.

5 comments

Oh weird it's not stat for them? I'm loving this two long weekends in a row!
- It's not in Ontario either unfortunately
Can we switch it to June?
There's a serious lack of holidays between Victoria day and Canada day.
- Early in the school year is ideal for setting up anti-racist messaging and initiatives in schools.
  September 30th is actually just about ideal for timing since it's long enough into the year that teachers should have established strong rapport with their students, and early enough in the year to have maximum leverage.
  Come to think of it, I imagine it could tie in nicely with the Terry Fox Run, too, as a way of starting a "Canadian Issues" unit with something heavy but not controversial (cancer) and then moving on to confronting the realities of Canada's racist past and present.
  Also, the origins of Orange Shirt Day was taking away Aboriginal identity metaphorically through the literal taking away of one child's favourite shirt at the start of school, so the timing near the start of the school year makes sense. It will have the most impact with children since they can fairly easily imagine the angst of not knowing how a new school year will go, and contrast their angst with the abuse of residential schools.
  No offense, but June would be a terrible time for it; kids and teachers are the most checked out/burnt out then. It would have much less impact that late in the year.
- Por que no los dos?