Sunday, December 14, 2014
Brad Badiuk, Winnipeg teacher, on leave after controversial Facebook posts on aboriginals
A Winnipeg high school teacher who posted controversial remarks on Facebook about First Nations people is now on paid administrative leave.
Some of the comments made by Brad Badiuk, an electronics teacher at Kelvin High School, concern aboriginal people generally. Others targeted Derek Nepinak, the grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC).
Kevin Hart, who works with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, lodged a formal complaint about Kelvin High School teacher Brad Badiuk's comments about aboriginal people.
The controversy started when another teacher posted an article on her Facebook page about John Ralston Saul's book, The Comeback, which contends that repairing the relationship between First Nations peoples and the rest of Canada is a pressing issue.
In response, Badiuk put these posts (taken verbatim) on Facebook, "Oh Goddd how long are aboriginal people going to use what happened as a crutch to suck more money out of Canadians?
"The benefits the aboriginals enjoy from the white man/europeans far outweigh any wrong doings that were done to a concured people."
Another line read, "Get to work, tear the treaties and shut the FK up already. My ancestor migrated here early 1900's they didn't do anything. Why am I on the hook for their cultural support?"
Kevin Hart, who works with the AMC, complained to the school board about the comments, calling them racist and hurtful, and demanding action be taken.
School officials could not say how long the investigation would take or whether Badiuk might face discipline.
"It's obviously really disheartening," said Mark Wasyliw, chair of the board of the Winnipeg School Division. "We are a very diverse school division. We have a huge population of aboriginal students and these types of allegations are always concerning and demoralizing for staff."
SOURCE
Interesting that no-one seems to be disputing the truth of what he said. Another case of truth that must not be mentioned, it seems.
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4 comments:
One of many truths that dare not be uttered.
The teacher's post was hurtful? So what? Apparently they have never heard the statement "The truth hurts". If we followed their wishes, no one would ever tell the truth about anything controversial.
This guy is articulating things that plenty of other people feel but not too many say.
However, the real issue is whether he should suffer discipline at work for expressing these type of personal views.
I suspect his work will say 'yes'.
In Oz even using the word "aboriginal" is considered racist. They want to be called "indigenous" now.
I reckon "disingenuous" works better.
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