The Grover School Pledge

Sixth-grader Arlaina is excited about inheriting her older cousin’s rabbit and proving she can be responsible for its care. She also looks forward to presenting her autobiographical sketch to her class of mostly white students in Mississauga, Ontario. Her teacher, Mr. Matthews, has never spoken about Black history. Arlaina wants “to be bold like [her grandfather] someday”. He had died during a protest march in America before she was born. She feels that Mr. Matthews reprimands her more than her white – but otherwise virtually identically behaved – best friend, Tina. Then Nadia, the daughter of a diplomat who has just been transferred from Egypt, joins Arlaina’s class. One day, shortly after whispering to Arlaina that Mr. Matthews “has a problem with two Black girls talking”, Nadia is astonished when Mr. Matthews asks an inappropriate question about her hijab.

As per the above excerpt, Nadia decides that something has to be done about Mr. Matthews. At Arlaina and Nadia’s next meeting, more of the minority students are involved, and it turns out that Mr. Matthews isn’t their only thoughtless teacher. Arlaina proposes that the students at the meeting “get every teacher in the school to sign a pledge saying they promise to recognize us and treat us the same way the other students are treated.” When Tina suggests meeting with the school’s principal first, Nadia agrees that’s a good idea. The Principal listens to the students feelings and fully supports their idea. He suggests a school assembly in which all teachers will be asked to think about some simple questions – constructed by the girls and himself – concerning their (possibly thoughtless) racist behaviour and then listen to brief speeches from Nadia and Arlaina.

Arlaina gets some advice from her older cousin and gives a lot of thought to what she’ll say at the assembly. She speaks about how students want to fit in and teachers should be helping all of them do this by teaching some true history (for instance, concerning Indigenous people) and helping students to understand each other better. The teachers are then asked to sign a pledge promising to do their part to make sure the school is an equal, fair, and safe space for all, no matter the colour of the students’ skin or where they’ve come from, and to help all students learn about “the beauty of other cultures, countries, and people.” Arlaina's speech is well-received by all. Shortly after that, Arlaina's rabbit has kits, and everyone in her family builds a big, new hutch in their backyard for it.

Arlaina is a credible, well-rounded character. Tina and Nadia, while believable, would have benefitted from further character development as would many of the male figures in the novel, from Mr. Matthews, to Tina’s heart-throb, Jonathan, to Arlaina’s bully, Duncan. Duncan’s introduction and big scene feel contrived simply to show that Mr. Matthews probably believes a bawling, white (lying) student rather than a stunned Black one claiming innocence.

The main message of The Grover School Pledge is of great importance for all readers. However, much of the novel’s dialogue and action feels stilted.