3 ms·

> A common subject among mixed-heritage students... Is 'heritage' as used here a synonym for race? In my case, my children have one parent from an Anglophone c

• wrp 4y ago
  I use "heritage" instead of "race" so as to cover any situation where a person's dual ancestry can mark them as an outsider. This could be based on race, religion, ethnicity, or any other factor by which people decide someone is "not one of us". I assumed it would be understood that a specific mixed-heritage is an issue only when living in a community where such a distinction is made. For example, I don't think there is anywhere in America where being part French would mark you as an oddity, but there was a time when being part Irish would. In that case, I argue the thing to do is place the children in a community where being part Irish is the norm. The point is to raise children in a social situation where they don't feel singled out by their peers.
  • docdeek 4y ago
    Thanks for the reply - I understand. In my case we’ve largely aligned with this perspective. The kids go to a French/English bilingual school with a large (+30%) cohort of non-French national students. Their friend/peer groups are diverse and wouldn’t be singled out for their backgrounds - although, like kids all over the world, there are plenty of other ways that kids will get singled out (height, weight, wearing glasses…).