A change to the Grade 11 English course is on the horizon at all schools under the Lambton-Kent District School Board.
Starting September 2017, students in Grade 11 will be taking a mandatory native-focused English course.
Mark Sherman, superintendent of secondary schools, says rather than having students focus on Shakespeare, students will have a native-based focus, but will still get the same learning experience.
"It still meets all the same expectations and curricular processes," says Sherman. "[They're] still going to research, they're still going to write, they're still going to discuss, they're still going to present; but instead of say a topic like Shakespeare, they're going to learn about maybe indigenous authors."
The change in curriculum isn't completely new to most schools under the school board. Sherman says it started running as an optional course at first and was then adopted into ten of the 12 schools.
"We did some trial runs with it at John McGregor Secondary School and it proved hugely popular," he says. "It's a complete substitute course for the regular college level -- university level English. So on that basis we just kind of grew it organically."
This change in the curriculum comes as a way for LKDSB students to learn more on native history and culture. Sherman says having all 12 schools take on the native-focused English course, reflects well on the school board.
"Next year we're going to all 12 schools -- the last two schools are joining in and that's, I think, unprecedented in the province," he says. "I think we're the only people who have done it and have been successful in it."
For those who perhaps like learning about Shakespeare or the Victorian era of writing, Sherman adds it will still be available throughout students' high school stint.
"There's options in Grade 10 and Grade 12 curriculum if they want to do more traditional sources," he says.
In addition to having the native-focused English course, schools will also offer a native-focused art course for Grade 9 students, a Grade 11 option course in native studies, and an optional course on global perspectives of indigenous cultures for Grade 12 students.