School board’s historically regressive decision
Cynics Unlimited has written an excellent follow up to the Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) historically regressive decision last night to approve the offering of segregated programs and a blacks-only high school to open in the fall of 2009.
I will not call it a black-focused school today because that is the politically correct wording of a decision that everyone involved in this decision will come to regret. How can anything be visionary or focused when it is born of such misunderstanding, anger and hate?Normally, when parents “choose” a certain type of school for their children, a completely different attitude is present. Rather than repeat what Cynapse has written, read what he said about last night’s board meeting.
What is interesting and unfortunate is that all day the television was reporting the board event and referring to the fact that the reason so many black youth were dropping out was the “system’s” fault, that it was the “system” that had somehow failed them. If that were true, most if not all black youth would be dropping out but that simply isn’t the case. In fact, my assumption is that the majority of black youth are doing very well. A system does not fail a child. The child fails in the system. While politically incorrect to say that, it is reality.
So, why is it that most Toronto black youth succeed in school while a minority do not? Well, here is a link to a wonderful website on “What Makes Kids Succeed in School?” And, no surprise, the biggest ingredient is positive parental support, parental involvement and parents as “role models.” Author Julie Williams says, based on the findings of two renowned researchers, there are Ten hallmarks for children who succeed in school.
For example, children who succeed in school:
- Are eager to learn;
- Pursue learning, asking questions and seeking help;
- Put effort into their work;
- Use solid emotional and social skills;
- Have an accurate view of their own knowledge and skills;
- Look to parents as role models for learning;
- Have homes that promote learning by natural teaching;
- Follow helpful family routines;
- Know that rules count;
- Attend schools with high expectations, strong and effective staff development and good communication about kids’ progress.
And, most important of all, even when children are struggling, positive parental role models and involvement is the key to a positive self-image.
Isn’t that what this Toronto situation is all about? Is it the “system” that is to blame for youth dropping out of school too soon? Or, are the students themselves partly to blame, not because of their colour or culture, but because they do not have any or few of the hallmarks for successful learning? Or, most important of all , what is the role the parents play in a youth’s decision to drop out?
Political explosive questions for sure but ones that need to be truthfully answered by those in society who find such truth difficult to admit. The TDSB just made a historically regressive decision that will not have any positive outcomes no matter how the authorities try to rig the results. Who then will be blamed when that becomes obvious?
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Note: C/P at With Good Reason.
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Durward:
Race based….Unconstitutional and deeply disturbing.
January 30, 2008, 10:31 amsegregation only leads to hatred.
Ann:
What ever happened to the system I grew up in that leveled the education playing field for all students no matter what race, creed, colour, religion or social status? That was the hallmark of what public education used to be in its mass market production of good educated citizens capable of greater things upon graduation.
None of those items identified will make a hill of beans of a difference unless there’s proof that the system is open to change and improve alongside and as a mirror of family and social expectations.
You talk as if dropping out is something new and unique to education. It’s not. In the ’60s and ’70s kids dropped out of school too. There were those back then who couldn’t handle the work and/or got into trouble or pregnant or died. Where was the call for alternative schools then?
I was reminded this morning by someone who attended an alternative school in Toronto in the 1970’s that moving this way isn’t new for Toronto and they simply applied the old application model to this one because to vote against this would have meant a backlash that the board admin. didn’t want.
Oh, and Cynic’s point no. 5 should be corrected to include Warren Kinsella, who on his blog this morning says “I am with Dr. King on the Afro-centric school vote. Like the great man said ‘Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.’ This is no great step forward. It is a step backward and it is what organized racists have sought for decades.” He uses a reverse application of King to agree with Sandy…..go figure…Sandy and Warren on the same page yet oddly opposite when it came to fb schools. Strange bed fellows indeed.
If you watched TVO last night you would have seen Dr. Howard Fuller - hosted by the Society of Quality Education talk about the black-centric schools and his message that in order to work the discussion MUST be more about education, standards and expectations, and choice than about race/religion/culture. He cautioned that directed at anything else is dooming this whole idea to failure. Visit http://www.societyforqualityeducation.org to download Dr. Fuller’s 45 minute speech he gave on his visit to Toronto. It’s well worth the time.
Also Moira MacDonald has a column on this in the Sun today also.
January 30, 2008, 10:37 amSandy:
Ann — Right on. We’ve always had drop outs. Only when I was going to high school in the late 1950’s, for those who dropped out, there were clerical jobs for the females and menial and construction jobs for the males.
Now, there are few jobs, if any, for those who are illiterate — other than jobs that are illegal.
This whole discussion should NOT be about colour. Students of all colours and cultures are dropping out. It should be about parenting and personal responsibility. If the students don’t put anything into schooling they will get nothing out of it. Simple as that. And, they need role models other than thugs and gang leaders — again no matter what their colour or culture. This blacks-only school sets an unfortunate precedent.
Blacks in the U.S. are dumbfounded by this regressive decision. And, so they should be. It is an embarrassment.
Me and Kinsella on the same page. Wonders never cease. I actually like the guy. Over the top and very liberal but a non-conformist like myself. I e-mail him regularly and we can disagree with civility and respect. I can’t say that about a lot of folks, although most who stop here on a regular basis love a good debate — or argument. Mind you, if we agreed about everything, it would be so booooring! LOL
P.S. Gone for part of the day now. Back later this afternoon.
January 30, 2008, 10:50 amspelling police:
Unfortunately the school choice movement are seeing this as a huge victory - speaking of strange bedfellows - this puts charter and private school supporters on the same page as the TDSB and some of those formerly noisey critics of the previous gov’t.
The real inequity that exists from my perspective in a small rural community is that I’m wondering when my board can start lobbying the gov’t to fund and resource rural-centric schools that can preserve the small schools here that exist already and benefit our students with a focus on those their needs.
January 30, 2008, 1:58 pmSandy:
SP — I need some time to digest that this decision is somehow great for the school choice movement. But, you have a point re rural schools. The next time someone wants to shut them down, scream blue murder and ask for your own ruralcentric school!
January 30, 2008, 2:56 pmSandy:
Actually, Ann and SP — If this is an example of school choice, then I am NOT in favour of it. To me it is just a politically correct reaction to a social and family problem. On this we’ll have to agree to disagree. However, in other instances I still think school choice is a good idea.
January 30, 2008, 2:58 pmSandy:
Durward — If you saw any of last night’s board meeting, it is already based on hatred. It can only get more divisive.
January 30, 2008, 4:13 pmAnn:
how can adults get things so wrong……..for kids?
January 30, 2008, 5:25 pmnomdeblog:
For your readers, Best Education blog voting can be found here:
http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-2/
January 30, 2008, 6:27 pm