February 28^th, 2008

Dear Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board Trustees:

I am writing out of concern that Mr. Gilchrist’s public letter to the editor is full of racist and anti-immigrant sentiment. His words are a reflection of Canadian systemic racism that (among other kinds of damage) has resulted in certain minority groups facing high school drop out rates at high as 40%. While we are proudly one of few nations in the world that embraces a multiculturalism policy, the national policy is not reaching our minority students.

As an assistant professor in social foundations of education at Trent University, I have the opportunity to learn about some of the most progressive practices of KPR educators and administrators. I have been impressed by your outstanding work with anti-oppression education around ablism, classism, racism, and homophobia in particular, and have observed some of the most powerful inclusion of Aboriginal knowledge in schools. For this, I think your board should be very proud. I have unfortunately also witnessed and heard about some terribly racist and homophobic incidents in schools that have been ignored, and left unaddressed. In addition, I have rarely found curricula that includes education against racism and homophobia in KPR schools, which may provide the kinds of safer learning environments that prevent hurtful behaviour.

I encourage you to use this very public disturbing letter from Mr. Gilchrist to help support your educators and administrators with anti-oppression education. Why not ask for equity workshops for all of your staff and faculty? Why not make this individual outburst a reason to help educate the community? In this way, you might restore public confidence, and more importantly enrich your board’s capacity to meet the goals of Canadian multiculturalism.

I know the school unions offer many resources and workshops, and I am happy to personally offer my time and expertise.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Karleen Pendleton Jimenez, PhD

Assistant Professor

School of Education

Trent University

kpendletonjimenez@trentu.ca

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Peterborough Examiner

Trustee should go

Re "Board chairperson 'compelled to respond to letter' " (Feb. 22) -

As a parent of children at Queen Elizabeth public school I appreciate school board chairperson Diane Llloyd's response to Gordon Gilchrist's dangerous piece of writing.

As those who know me will attest, I am not often lost for words, but I must confess that his blatant racist and hateful attitude has left me speechless. I trust that Ms. Lloyd will exercise all possible avenues to assist Mr Gilchrist to vacate his elected post at the earliest possible opportunity, and thereby remove himself from having any possible influence on our children or their teachers.

Mr. Gilchrist has attempted to excuse himself on the grounds of illiteracy - further evidence that he is unsuitable to hold a leadership position in the Kawartha Pine Ridge school board. Anything less than his resignation will be insufficient to reassure parents that our children are safe in their schools.

RUTH STRUNZ, School Council chairperson Queen Elizabeth School Peterborough

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March 3 2008
Letter to the Editor
Peterborough Examiner

In the controversy surrounding Kawartha Pine Ridge District School
Board Trustee Gordon Gilchrist’s negative comments about immigrants
to Canada, some have argued that Mr. Gilchrist has the right to his
opinions in a democratic culture.  If that is the case, then those
who disagree with him have an attendant democratic obligation to
speak out against such points of view.  I disagree with Mr. Gilchrist.

Mr. Gilchrist’s comments certainly strike me as appalling, racist,
full of anger and ignorance.  I am saddened and deeply dismayed that
a member of my community could hold such views and I find it hard to
believe that the good people of the Town of Cobourg, Townships of
Alnwick/Haldimand and Hamilton would have elected him if they knew

he held such beliefs, particularly as they appear to contradict the
fundamental values espoused by the school board he serves.

This incident, along with the recent attacks on Asian Canadian
fishermen, are clear examples that racist attitudes and actions are
part of our local social fabric and we should all acknowledge that,
speak out against it, support the organizations that actively fight
it and in our daily lives challenge discrimination and prejudice,
whenever and wherever we find them.

Susan Ditta
591 Gilmour St.
Peterborough Ontario