Since I've been away from Toronto for a month, apparently I didn't hear about the fact that the Toronto Education Board was voting on and has agreed to implement "Black Focus" Schools.
At first thought, I said to myself, ok, if the majority of Black students are dropping out of highschool, something has to be done...however, this isn't the United States...what will the curriculum consist of, how will it be advantageous, how will this address the root of the problem, large socio-economic gaps in Toronto communities?
Too many questions...will this produce other ethnic-focused schools and a strange, supposedly 'education' oriented, type of contemporary segregation.
What did the Toronto Education Board base their decisions on? Why aren't they recommending a revision to the ENTIRE public school curriculum and inclusion of more studies on Africa and the African Diaspora??
Wouldn't all students benefit from a more global curriculum?
I don't know enough yet to form my opinion, but I'm certainly interested, having been a teacher, to know more and see how this will affect students in the GTA.
Some opinions include:
http://orvillelloyddouglas.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/its-official-toronto-board-of-education-agrees-to-open-black-focus-school/
http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/5/126581.html?1201721709
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080108/black_focused_school_080108/20080108hub=TorontoHome
http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/tvoparents/index.cfm?page_id=483&event_id=1265
2 comments:
how will this address the root of the problem, large socio-economic gaps in Toronto
Greetings Kate! Long time, no speak...as they say.
Kate, do you think the "root of the problem" is simply socio-economic gaps in Toronto? Certainly, Canadian blacks have a high standard of living in comparison to their southern brethren so why are there these SES gaps? Why the large failures amongst the black population in high school? Why the need for all black schools when 4 decades ago, the failure of blacks was because they were not allowed in white schools?
Seems we have come full circle in 4 plus decades with the same problem staring us in the face. The answer has been staring us in the face as well though, regrettably, has been skillfully hidden due to political correctness and that liberal guilt thing.
All the best.
Why aren't they recommending a revision to the ENTIRE public school curriculum and inclusion of more studies on Africa and the African Diaspora??
Why should the entire public school system be revised, which would cost tremendous amounts of tax dollars, when it is not broken for other ethnic/racial groups?
Have we not had enough studies on Africa and African Diaspora done to know what the major problems are?
Post a Comment