Originally published in TEACH Magazine, 40 Years of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Special Issue, 2022
By Aleksandra Trivan Johnstone
For many newcomers to Canada, learning is often steeped in urgency. Learning a new language, navigating a new community, and understanding the customs and expectations of a new culture can feel critical to survival. But it is important for our students and their families to do more than just survive this transition. We want them to thrive, and to feel empowered to become active and engaged members of their communities.
This is why I love helping my newcomer students learn about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and why I think it is so critical that we take the time to engage actively with the Charter’s contents in our classrooms.
Aleksandra Trivan Johnstone is a secondary school teacher in the Halton District School Board.
