Black History Month Celebrated in Ontario Elementary Classrooms

TORONTO , Jan. 29 /CNW/ - Black History Month, which is celebrated during February, was initially created to affirm African Canadian students in schools and in the community at large.

The Canadian Negro Women's Association introduced the celebration of Black History Month to Toronto in the 1950s. This black Canadian community initiative was adopted by the Ontario government in 1979, thanks to its championing by the Ontario Black History Society. In 1995, the House of Commons declared a national Black History Month, which went into effect in 1996.

For the past 31 years in Ontario, school children have been invited to take part in events and celebrations during February that honour the history of black Canadians.

Elementary teachers in Ontario celebrate Black History Month in their classrooms and schools as a way of honouring Black Canadians past and present who have made an enormous impact on our society and on the development of Canada as a nation.

Black History Month is also a time for all Ontarians to learn about the contributions of our black communities, and the history of their ongoing struggle for equity and social justice.

"Elementary teachers continually strive to create inclusive and equitable classrooms where all students are recognized for their cultural, racial, and historical backgrounds," said Sam Hammond , President, Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario. "When children see themselves reflected in the classroom environment through the curriculum they learn that they matter and that their ancestry is respected and acknowledged."

Information on events and programs for Black History Month is available on the ETFO website at www.etfo.ca.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario represents 73,000 elementary public school teachers and education workers across the province and is the largest teacher federation in Canada .

For further information: Sam Hammond, President, ETFO, [phone] (Office); Larry Skory, ETFO Communications, [phone] (Office), [phone] (Cell)