Toronto to get black-focused school

[The Goon]

In a tight vote, Toronto District School Board trustees Tuesday night approved a contentious proposal for a black-focused school that opponents argued would be the equivalent of segregation.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home

This actually makes me physically ill. My parents came to Canada from South Africa so that they could raise a family in a country without segregation, and this says to me that maybe we're regressing as a society. It's terribly disappointing.

[Option84]

MLK is spinning in his grave.

[Resolute 14]

It'll be hilarious to read the excuses four years from now when dropout rates don't go down...

[CaptainCrunch]

From what I understand the concept of the school was bought up and requested by members of the black community, so the term segregation and the statement about MLK is I think a little over the top. It wouldn't be.

I guess the issue that is stupid is that we're bringing up the bugaboo of cultural differences. That black students can't keep up to white students when they follow white curriculum. I think that this is the issue that bothers me a lot, because the black community by saying this is fueling the fire for every crackpot racist out there.

At the end of the day, one of Canada's great achievements and possibly its greatest failure is its policy of multiculturalism. In a way, by accepting their explanation that they need this school, we're actually handicapping them, and in a lot of ways lowering expectations. At the end of the day, all of our kids have to be Canadian's they have to get the same level of education, and we shouldn't use 10 cent easy solutions like allowing schools for black kids, or Muslim Kids or Chinese kids as part of the public system. If they need help in school, isn't it more of a individual thing then a race thing, shouldn't we be doing that then recreating the whole ebonics program in our country.

Shouldn't I be running at a temp of less then 100 degrees.

[Bill Bumface]

They should build several tall concrete apartment buildings with small windows and subsidized rent right next to this school so the kids don't have to walk far

[ricoFlame]

yeah, this is a strange idea. i understand where this is coming from, but it just stinks of segregation. i don't think that the positives outweigh the negatives here.

[CrusaderPi]

Edmonton has a native focused school already. Muslims build their owns schools, so do Sheiks. I'd imagine there are Asian schools around too, though I know of none.

These focused schools are bad policy, it's self imposed segregation, and it leads to creating racial or religious enclaves. But, I don't see Canada, as a whole having the backbone to stop this sort of thing.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Edmonton has a native focused school already. Muslims build their owns schools, so do Sheiks. I'd imagine there are Asian schools around too, though I know of none.

These focused schools are bad policy, it's self imposed segregation, and it leads to creating racial or religious enclaves. But, I don't see Canada, as a whole having the backbone to stop this sort of thing.

i'm not sure that any of those schools are part of the public system though. in some cases they get some public funding, but are not part of a public school board. the motto of public education in alberta is opportunities for all children.

i completely agree with the second part of your post.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

These focused schools are bad policy, it's self imposed segregation, and it leads to creating racial or religious enclaves. But, I don't see Canada, as a whole having the backbone to stop this sort of thing.

I would hope not. That'd be forced assimilation. I don't see anything wrong with people wanting their kids to learn in a certain atmosphere. It's no different than rich kids going to private schools, french kids (or anyone else) going to a french immersion... ESL type schools.

I think that because it is the black community, us whities automatically see it as reverse racism.

[Bill Bumface]

They can call it "Canada's school for Canadians"

[Azure]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

yeah, this is a strange idea. i understand where this is coming from, but it just stinks of segregation. i don't think that the positives outweigh the negatives here.

It stinks of segregation...because that is exactly what it is.

[FlamesAddiction]

Do groups of people have the right to willingly segregate themselves in a free country?

It's not like black students would be forced to go to a black school. I'm not saying I like the idea, but I just don't see where we draw the line. As someone else mentioned, there is a history of willing segregation in schools (Muslim schools, Catholic schools, female only schools, etc...). Can we really tell black Canadians that they don't have a right to have black schools?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

there is a history of willing segregation in schools (Muslim schools, Catholic schools, female only schools, etc...). Can we really tell black Canadians that they don't have a right to have black schools?

Aren't all those schools privately funded though?

I have no problem with a black-only school.....if the government doesn't pay for it.

[Thunderball]

Maybe its just me... but why would you move to a country just to segregate yourself and to not immerse yourself in a new culture?

If I moved to Europe or Japan, I'd probably seek out some ties to North America, but I'd be moving there because I liked the country and wanted to immerse myself in that culture.

I am aware many people move for political reasons, but surely, wouldn't they be all the more eager to cast off the shackles of their oppressive or regressive society and join Canadian society willingly? We're not exactly the Borg here assimilating everything and everyone.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Azure

Aren't all those schools privately funded though?

I have no problem with a black-only school.....if the government doesn't pay for it.

Then it's not really an issue of segregation or not.

I can buy that. The only thing to remember is that black people make up between 10-15% of Toronto's population. It's not like in Western Canadian cities where Afro-Canadian populations are relatively small. Ten to fifteen percent makes up a pretty large chunk of public money. I'm sure the amount of funding such a school receives wouldn't reach that level.

[SaskaBushFire]

Sweet finally a chance for me to cry about equality like the rest of the world.

This is not fair, I should be able to attend any school I want! This is my land to.. I pay taxes.. etc.. etc..

[Thunderball]

I also have to cry foul at the allegation that certain races can't learn the same way as others. I don't think there's much empirical evidence that Asians are superior at math, caucasians are superior at social sciences and Africans are superior at athletics or crap like that... so why feed the flames with this nonsense.

[AaronSJ]

I don't think this is an issue of segregation at all. In Toronto, kids can choose between several options for high school: Catholic school, academic-focused school, athletic-focused school, school for the arts, alternative school, there are even schools for Gay/Lesbian/Bi students and aboriginals. The point is that you have a choice, based on your interests.

Now there will be an "Africentric" high school option as well. No one will be forced to choose it, and no one will be prevented from going due to race... it's merely another option. And while I do question whether it'll actually work... I think it's AT LEAST A TRY in a neighbourhood where the dropout rate is 40% and the crime & poverty rates are among the highest in the country....

[jammies]

Humans aren't like breeds of dogs, there are no real differences between the "races" other than culture. The eventual solution to racial harmony will be to break down the exclusive elements of culture, which this school does the opposite of. Bad idea, regardless of the intention.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by AaronSJ

I don't think this is an issue of segregation at all. In Toronto, kids can choose between several options for high school: Catholic school, academic-focused school, athletic-focused school, school for the arts, alternative school, there are even schools for Gay/Lesbian/Bi students and aboriginals. The point is that you have a choice, based on your interests.

Now there will be an "Africentric" high school option as well. No one will be forced to choose it, and no one will be prevented from going due to race... it's merely another option. And while I do question whether it'll actually work... I think it's AT LEAST A TRY in a neighbourhood where the dropout rate is 40% and the crime & poverty rates are among the highest in the country....

Given this information I don't really have a problem with it. Segregation implies a forced aspect, ie. you can't go here because you're x race. I see this as providing additional options to students, not removing them... hardly a new descent into South African style apartheid.