Summary

A school division in a Canadian province has created a new position for a Divisional Principal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Services, highlighting the need for action beyond empty proclamations and the benefits of inclusive education for all students.

Abstract

The article discusses the recent creation of a Divisional Principal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Services position in a Canadian school division, filled by Michelle J. Jean-Paul, a Black woman with extensive qualifications. It contrasts this proactive step with the Manitoba government's annual, actionless proclamation of February as Inclusive Education Month. The author emphasizes the importance of inclusive education, its benefits for all students, and the lack of meaningful action by politicians, including the Minister of Education. The author also shares insights from local students with disabilities and their families on what true inclusion would entail. The article calls for the establishment of similar roles across all school divisions and for consistent, equitable education standards, suggesting that public pressure might be necessary to prompt the Minister of Education to mandate and fund such positions.

Opinions

The author positively views the creation of the new diversity and inclusion role and the qualifications of its inaugural holder, Michelle J. Jean-Paul.
There is a critical opinion of the Manitoba government's approach to inclusive education, labeling their annual proclamation as an "empty proclamation" without subsequent action or funding.
The author believes that inclusive schools benefit not only neurodivergent and disabled students but all students, which is a perspective that they feel is overlooked by politicians.
The author is skeptical about the current Minister of Education's ability to foster inclusive education, given their lack of experience in education and the absence of significant policy changes or funding allocations.
There is hope expressed for the potential impact of the new Principal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Services on education policy and practice.
The author advocates for the creation of similar diversity and inclusion roles across all school divisions and for more consistent education standards to ensure equity.
The author calls for public activism, suggesting that letters and emails to the Minister of Education are necessary to drive change in the education system.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism in Education

Creating welcoming classrooms, schools, and communities

Possibilities

In December 2021, a school division in our province created a brand new position, Divisional Principal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Services.

I also learned that the person hired into the position is an intelligent, highly qualified Black woman named Michelle J. Jean-Paul. Not only is she taking on this new role, she’s doing so while also working on a PhD in equity policy. Michelle J. Jean-Paul has worked as an educator, a community advocate, and has a Masters of Education.

(I don’t know her personally, and have no affiliation with the school division or with this person — but I heard her interview on CBC this morning, and I like her already).

Empty proclamations

Principal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Services should be a position in every single division in every single province and territory.

All we get here in Manitoba is an empty proclamation once a year, declaring February “Inclusive Education month”, followed by… absolutely nothing. No action, no change, no new policy, and definitely no new funding dedicated to inclusive education.

February Was Inclusive Education Month in Manitoba?

Yep, that’s a question mark right there in the title.

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Inclusion (in)action

In fact, our Minister of Education was so silent and inactive after posting an image of a proclamation on social media and doing nothing else, that I took the liberty of doing his job for him (you’re welcome, Cliff*).

I polled local students with disabilities and their families to find out what true inclusion would look like in their classrooms and schools, and to dive further into what inclusion really means on a practical level. Here’s what they told me:

What Inclusive Education Really Means

What inclusive education REALLY means to disabled students

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Benefits of inclusion

The thing that politicians — especially our Minister of Education, who has absolutely zero experience actually working in education — and other policy-makers fail to recognize is that inclusive schools and classrooms are beneficial to all students, not just neurodivergent and disabled students.

Inclusion Benefits All Students

Accommodations for neurodiverse students benefit everyone

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It can be done

After making empty declarations, it seems that politicians are willing to say that inclusion would be a good thing (they pretend it already exists, but by and large, it does not yet), but that’s about all they’re willing to do.

Even if they were willing to throw money at the problem, it seems they don’t actually know how to create truly inclusive classrooms and schools. Don’t worry, Cliff, I got you covered there too:

Cultivating Inclusive Classrooms

What it really means to have an inclusive classroom

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Also, I am confident that LRSD’s new Principal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Services will have many ideas for change moving forward. I very much look forward to following and learning from her work.

My wish

I wish this new Principal of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Services position were for the entire province, or that it were a position created in every single division, not just one.

I wish there were more consistency across the various school boards in how schools are run, so that education were more equitable in every single neighbourhood and community — not just those that get lucky and have good superintendents, or the divisions located in affluent communities, resulting in better funding through property taxes.

Cynicism aside, this does provide an opportunity for Michelle Jean-Paul — a Black woman, community advocate, and expert in inclusive education — to effect change in her division and beyond. I am hopeful other divisions will take notice and follow suit.

I would expect (but am much less hopeful) our Minister of Education to require this position to be created, and to provide funding for divisions to hire more diverse people in inclusion and anti-racism senior-level positions.

This would only happen if there were further public outrage and political pressure on our Minister of Education, so parents, let’s get on this.

Write to our new Minister of Education, MLA Wayne Ewasko: send him letters, emails, messages through social media, and let him know Manitoba parents care about diverse, equitable, anti-racist, inclusive education. That is likely the only way it will happen.

C’mon, a little activism will keep us warm.

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Manitoba PCs Name New Minister Of Education

*Note: In February 2021, Cliff Cullen was Minister of Education. One day before this was written (On January 19, 2022), MLA Wayne Ewasko was announced as the new Minister of Education in Manitoba.

Manitoba PCs Name New Minister Of Education

He certainly can’t any do worse than the last one

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