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CityNews: Community Ponders The Reality Of Black-Focused Schools

Community Ponders The Reality Of Black-Focused Schools
Thursday November 8, 2007
CityNews.ca Staff
Ontarians vehemently expressed their discontent when John Tory's Conservatives put forth the idea of funding faith based schools during the recent election. Tory eventually realized that he had made a terrible mistake and tried to backtrack from the disastrous idea, but by then the damage was done, and voters made sure to remind him when they cast their ballots firmly in favour of the Liberals. And now another controversial idea regarding public schooling has emerged in Toronto.

The issue of bringing black-focused schools to the city first arose in 1995, but now it's back and as expected, it's dividing community members. On Thursday night, the city hosted the first of two public meetings to discuss the controversial idea.

Some think it's a plan that could potentially turn the clock back to the racial segregation of the 50s, but others contend it's a step forward in the right direction.

Both sides expressed their passionate opinions on Thursday at North Albion Collegiate.

"I don't want segregation," one attendee wailed. "It brings me to tears! No! No! No! No! I don't want to be segregated!"

Andrew Murphy, who supports the plan, believes it would give young black students a better chance to succeed.

"There is a disproportionate amount of black students who are failing in the system, who are not only failing academically but socially as well."

Community members were asked to reflect on whether they supported an Afro-centric alternative school, and what the Toronto District School Board should consider in establishing such a school.

Supporters say that the proposal would give black students an increased sense of identity and help curb dropout rates.

The black-focused schools would be in the city's east, west and south ends and would highlight black history and employ more black teachers and mentors.

But students like Stephanie Lynch are still troubled with the prospect of black-only schooling.

"Black people fought for a very long time to just go to school with someone for a different race, to sit beside someone on a bus of a different race. And now it's like they're taking us away from that," she concludes.

A second public meeting will be held at 7pm on Monday at Northview Heights Secondary School.

What are your thoughts

i dont think its a good idea...we are trying to go forward not go backward in time and improvement. I understand the need to want to educate black students, in that case there should be more black history classes offered and make it the students responsibility to take part.

Urban Renaissance Institute - Discussion group on, reading, writing and racism (part 1 of 2)
The free version takes out some words but you can still get the gist. The author is from Ghana living in Canada.

I think I'd need to hear more indepth about the purpose as well as how they'd make sure those schools were just as well funded rather than just a "dumping ground". If its mean to be just an option for parents then I can't see how it could be compared to segregation. As a parent tho, whatever the answers I wouldn't choose to send any child of mine there.