Asian Quebecers denounce racist depictions in classroom materials
CBC
This story contains an image and descriptions of offensive stereotypes.
Excerpts of worksheets depicting racist stereotypes about Asian people that were used in Quebec government-funded French-language courses are sparking outrage, after images of the materials were circulated online.
The two different worksheets were used in francisation classes at the École internationale de français of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) and the Centre Louis-Jolliet, an adult learning centre in Quebec City. One includes a text with an offensive stereotype about Chinese cuisine, while the other shows a caricature of an Asian person.
"This is not right, this is discrimination, this is racism," said Jimmy Chan, president of the Chan Associations in Montreal.
The grammar worksheet sent home to students at the Centre Louis-Jolliet shows a cartoon of an Asian man in traditional dress, with the description: "He has small eyes."
According to a statement from the Centre de services scolaire de la Capitale, neither the school nor the service centre produced the worksheet.
"In this case we understand that it was the initiative of a teacher," said Vanessa Déziel, spokesperson for the service centre, in an email.
Though teachers are allowed to choose their own pedagogical material, the service centre said the caricature appeared to be from a few years ago and "open to interpretation."
"We are making sure to sensitize our teachers at the Centre Louis-Jolliet to ensure that their tools are neutral," the statement said.
The UQTR worksheet shows text from conversation between two characters, one of whom criticizes the food of various cultures. Asked whether they like Chinese cuisine, the character responds, "Are you joking? I don't eat cat."
CBC has not seen the full worksheet, but confirmed that it was available to students online until very recently.
In a statement, the university said the sheet was taken out of context, as it was intended to portray a character who was profoundly ignorant of the culinary habits of various cultures.
"Obviously, a reply from a caricature in a narrative text does not reflect the values of the instructor…or of the university," said UQTR spokesperson Jean-François Hinse in an email.
"We apologize for the discomfort that this publication may have caused."
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