Canada's first black-focussed school is set to open in Toronto in fall 2009. Following an emotional public debate on the issue Tuesday night, Toronto District School Board trustees voted in favour of creating a black-focused public school: a school with a curriculum and teaching environment focused on black history and culture.
Twenty-two delegates spoke out on the idea of introducing a black-centred school in Toronto at the Toronto District School Board office on Yonge Street at Sheppard Avenue over two hours. Many parents of black students were present to voice their opinions on the idea of an all-black school in Toronto.
The mother of murdered teen Jordan Manners is one of those who wanted trustees to vote against the recommendation. "Martin Luther King and how many of our fathers fought to come together so blacks and whites could come together, for us to sit in the front of the bus together. I don't think that we should have a black shcool. It's not right," she said. "Let us all come together and be as one." She asked the Toronto community to teach our children to be one with all races, adding that black-focused schools would just bring segregation.
Angela Wilson, a resident in Rexdale area said young people learn in different places and need to have options. "It's not about segregation. It's about self-determination. And we can only have that when we are free to learn and free to think for ourselves," said Wilson.
Most of the delegates carried a mixed reaction on the idea of an all-black school throughout the debate.
- Shashi K. Raina, Toronto
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I'm a actually for the Black Focus Education. I'm curious if it will make a change. If so, I think that it is the right step in the right direction and we should create a school for every ethnicity out there.
ReplyDeleteIf it fails and the drop-out rates remain the same, then we will need to close the school or open it up to everyone as it will be a huge vortex of spending for an already tight budget.
as i understand it is public and all are welcome (afro centric) NOT only open to blacks.
ReplyDeletedifferent minds learn differently - education should have more than one approach to better use the variety of 'mind types' among us all.
the comments are both for and against - BUT THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE SAID ABOUT WHAT THE AFROCENTRIC SCHOOL WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.
i did read an interesting clip about a math teacher giving the number 800,000 a human value (that many slaughtered in Rwanda). that approach may inspire previously uninterested kids.
- whatever the reason black people excel in many areas : many types of music,analog arts, sports.
we have to be 'allowed' to look at what blacks are great at and celebrate/promote that. i'm getting into contentious territory - i'm not a wacko geneticist... i'm just saying that the answer and approach are staring us in the face. Watch BET, or black culture wherever it exists ahppily and successfully. use the everyday, the vernacular, the humor the emotion, to create something that's engaging in this 'style' use it to teach teaxch teach useful curriculum that is needed for here and now.
God bless all,
good luck