The Costs of "Decolonizing" A School
from POWR Take in 20 Hosted by EMPOWR
We interviewed Ishan Acharya, a remarkable Grade 10 student at what used to be called Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School (affectionately known as “S-JAM”). In 2022, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) renamed the school to align with its “commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and ensuring inclusive learning environments where all students feel safe, welcomed and respected.” Erasing our nation’s founder in favour of the culturally neutral moniker “Laurel Heights” struck Ishan as an appalling use of taxpayer funds when some students can’t even afford to eat lunch. While the Board didn’t disclose the costs of the name change at the time, Ishan resourcefully filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request that revealed a cost of $195,105.86. We at least hope the WRDSB can prove the name change made students feel “safe, welcomed, and respected”, because those feelings are unlikely to be measurable among taxpayers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empowrconnect.substack.com
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