Blacks-only school in Toronto? Update
A week ago I wrote: What is going on in Toronto? People of colour, particularly blacks, have been fighting against segregation in all its forms for decades, if not centuries. How on earth can parents and the Toronto District School Board be seriously considering a black-only school for those of African heritage. See CTV link here.
In today’s world, what does the term “African heritage” really mean? There are many cultures within the continent of Africa besides those who are considered black. Or, does the term refer only to those who are descendants of slaves? How many centuries does a family history have to go back? Will a student have to complete an application to prove his or her African heritage? In my opinion, just asking those types of questions would be racist.
So, while the outcomes everyone wants may be commendable — that more black youth remain in school, graduate and go on to university – segregating students into a black-only alternative school is misguided.
Update: Today we are hearing about a charged atmosphere at a Monday night community meeting. In a CTV review of the meeting, it states:
“While some members of the community say it’s the best way to keep more young blacks interested and engaged, others fear the concept is a dangerous throwback to the days of segregation.” I totally agree with the latter point of view.
What is it going to say when blacks who graduate from a blacks-only school end up in an integated college and university system — particularly when parents think “it would be a step forward from the current system, which she says alienates many black students?” A system that alienates black students? How does the public system do that?
In any event, what all this suggests to me is that there is a lot of paranoia and unrealistic expectations for students. Moreover, there is an elephant in the room that is too politically charged to acknowledge — the role of parenting. The truth of the matter is that the current system does not alienate black students any more than it alienates other student groups. It is hard work for everyone, including parents who have to be willing and able to help their children with their homework.
There will be nothing magical about any kind of segregated school other than lowered expectations. To me, as a retired educator and academic, that smacks of institutionalized racism. And, the impression that black students can’t measure up would be VERY wrong. But, when families insist on putting black children in a blacks-only school, it sends the wrong messages — that they are not good enough to compete in regular schools and that African history is somehow superior to Canadian. That’s not true and it’s not good to suggest it!
What is most hypocritical of all is that Education Minister Kathleen Wynn, who used to be the Chair of the Toronto School Board, is just sitting back and letting the segregation happen. “She said the province would not intrude if the board approves the initiative.” Remember, this is the same Education Minister who recently campaigned against funding faith-based schools because they would “segregate” the community. So, while it is not acceptable to segregate on the basis of religion, it is not only acceptable but preferable to segregate on the basis of race?
A blacks-only school in Toronto? I hope not!
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Note: See also Damon’s blog at Black American in Toronto. C/P at Crux-of-the-Matter and Jack’s Newswatch.
I don’t believe Black-focused schools would actually forbid non-Black students to attend, but the curriculum would be “Afrocentric.” Still, it’s doubtful too many parents of non-Black children would send them there. I know that the Dante Alighieri School was originally intended for Italian-Canadian kids (for the same reason, that they weren’t doing very well in school), but now students of all nationalities attend it.
As long as Black-focused schools don’t actually exclude non-Black students (and I would say the same if there were “White-focused” schools), I don’t have a problem with them existing and even receiving public funding (of course, any school that excludes students on the basis of race should be allowed to exist – on its own money, not the taxpayers’). However, I’m somewhat uncomfortable with the idea, because they will in effect isolate Black children from the mainstream. My sister has two biracial (Black-White) children, and I am happy to see them succeed in the mainstream system. Perhaps Black-focused schools are worth a try if they really succeed in helping Black kids achieve academically – but I still can’t help believing there is a better way.
Emilia Liz — What bothers me is the segregated aspect of this school. Why “Africentric?” How would it be taken if a school was “Euricentric?” We know there would be screaming and yelling for sure.
Also, as I hinted in my piece, which African culture are they talking about? There are Egyptians, Moroccans, Berbers, Somalis, White South Africans and Black South Africans, and so on. Africa is a big continent. It would be like labelling all Europeans or South Americans as one culture.
So, still too many questions and few answers. And, what is even scarier, as one visitor to JN said they heard on CityPulse, Premier McGuinty is going to let the Toronto Board make the decision.
IMO, political correctness in the extreme.
I hate the term “African American” any way. People don’t say “He has a “African American car” no they would say “A Black car” Just like a black person would not say he has “Caucasion” siding on his house no they would say that the siding on the house is “white”! I just think that the term African American is racist in a way. Yes I am black; But i’m also American! Tell me am I wrong? kwauntype2002@yahoo.com
[...] C/P at With Good Reason and [...]
As first posted on Jacksnewswatch.
I have noticed that so far no articles on Afrocentric Alternative schools have addressed the fairness of the extra costs involved, while the extra costs were continuously cited in regard to funding faith based schools.
Despite the fact that due to changing demographics its student enrollment shrinks 9% every 5 years, which is a trend that is expected to continue, the Toronto District School Board continuously has difficulty staying within its budget, and taxpayers can expect no relief. The base allocation budgeted for students is $5,000 per elementary student, and $10,000 per secondary student, and the school board further supplements that base amount by providing $5,000 per alternative student, and has introduced a graduated small-school supplement of between $1,500 to $5,000 for schools with enrollments of 300 or less. By creating small specialized alternative schools the Toronto District School Board is actually trying to justify rewarding itself more funds for handling a shrinking number of students.
Although I understand why black parents want so much more money spent on educating their children, I am sure they would be the first to cry racism if they were targeted for tax increases in order to cover the costs, and since property taxes are calculated at a much higher rate for rental units in Toronto, many of the poor must actually carry a higher burden for the cost of education. Further, rural students have a school drop out rate similar to blacks, how is it fair that so much less money will be spent on them?
Brian S — Thanks for bringing up a very important issue — the cost of a blacks-only alternative school.
I would invite others to respond to his concerns.
The problem I have is that this makes black kids look “special” as if they have some separate and unique “negro” problem.
I’ve been to T-dot once, I have a good friend there. I did not noticed that the Chinese or Indians need special schools? Are there Arab schools? I’m not talking about Muslim, I mean just for Arabs?
Why is it that black people need ‘special instruction’ and no other ethnic/racial group does?
[...] C/P at With Good Reason. [...]
I am not African American but I have serious feelings about the Africentric school. I think this is very unfair and is starting a new segregration problem.
I think the idea of schools that teach an Afrocentric curriculum to their students is a wonderful one. These schools would not be, as many people here seem to confusedly think, for ‘blacks-only’. Students of any racial background would be welcome to attend. The curriculum schools currently teach is already Eurocentric, meaning it is based on European history and world views. This needs to be corrected. When most people think of Africa, they think of it as one country, a dark, disease-ridden, barren wasteland where starving orphans are dying of AIDS and wars never stop. This is simply not the case. Africa is actually 53 individual countries, many of which are peaceful and prosperous. It would do all children good to learn about this wonderful continent.
As to the question of ‘why Afrocentric over other races’, while there are many different racial groups in Toronto, none seem to be as negatively stereotyped as Blacks, and none, as a race, seem to have the same scholastic problems. If there were a large number of Indian students dropping out of school or failing I would be the first to endorse an Indocentric curriculum. Although I am white, I have a BA in African Studies, and I would definitely send my children to an Afrocentric school.
Linda, the fact that this “Afrocentric” school would be in policy open to non-blacks won’t stop racial segregation in practice. With its racially based foundation, how many non-black parents do you think will send their kids there? 5%, 20%, 50%? Not a chance. For all intents and purposes, it will be a “black” school.
How many parents would want their kid to be the “black” sheep amongst “white” ones — or should I have reversed that? Precious few, I’d wager. Especially given the incidence of crime and academic failure in the Toronto black community. I’d further surmise that any that were brave enough to put their kids into a homogenous environment where they are an anomaly might discover that their kids just don’t fit in or are actively ostracized by other kids. That happens already in some Toronto neighbourhoods due to the divisions introduced by the separate public and Catholic systems. I read a blog posting from an athiest father once who put his child in a Toronto Catholic school (by virtue of his athiest wife’s Catholic baptismal certificate they could get in). He did so because native-born Canadians were so rare in the public school that they couldn’t talk the language on the playground (which wasn’t English, but other tongues) and were left to play by themselves (Canadian-born, English mother-tongue kids are a minority in some Toronto neighbourhoods). Toronto and Ontario will pay a price for that sort of segregation, and the new forms of segregation the TDSB is creating, in the years to come.
I’m all for giving at-risk groups extra supports to get them out of risk, but this is an ill-considered way to do it. It is irresponsible for the Ministry of Education and the government to let it proceed. It could also be a slippery slope. What homogenous racial and ethnic group will want segregated schools next? The Chinese? Hindus? Both have areas of high density population in the GTA.