Saskatchewan teacher mistakenly hands out offensive Thanksgiving puzzle
MOOSE JAW, Sask. — A school division in southern Saskatchewan is apologizing after a handout with offensive words was mistakenly given to students.
A Thanksgiving work package supplied last week to a Grade 3 class in Moose Jaw had a word search puzzle in the shape of a teepee. It contained “squaw” and “papoose,” derogatory terms for Indigenous women and children.
Prairie South Schools said in a statement that the teacher gave the material to students who had completed other work before the long weekend.
The teacher had not carefully previewed the handout and was horrified to learn of its content Tuesday after a news reporter called the school division to ask about the puzzle.