Unlearn It is made up of videos, discussion questions and lesson plans for Grade 6 through Secondary II, along with a section for parents to talk to their kids about the subject.
Author of the article: Jason Magder • Montreal Gazette
The Quebec government has partnered with the province’s Jewish community to put together a tool for teachers and parents to talk about anti-Jewish hate with children.
Called Unlearn It, or Désapprendre l’antisémitisme, the resource is made up of videos, discussion questions and lesson plans for educators of children in Grade 6 through Secondary II. First available in English in 2022, the resources were translated into French with a $7,000 contribution from the Quebec government. They are now available online at Unlearnit.ca. There is also a section of the website that is intended to help parents talk to their children about the subject.
The animated videos show Jewish children living in the Montreal area talking about what Judaism means to them and describing how they felt when they experienced incidents of hate directed at them.
Speaking at a news conference to announce the project, Eta Yudin, Quebec vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said the videos tell stories based on real experiences. She said she hopes the resources will spark conversations within schools about antisemitism and all forms of hate.
“What we have been living as a Jewish community for the last few months has been very intense,” Yudin said. “I’m worried about our society, our democracy and our Quebec values, and when I see these videos I get emotional because I know people who have had similar experiences, and it’s very hard to accept that we have reached a point where we need these videos.”
