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Race, Schooling, and Segregation?
So, I have a question for my flist.
As some of you may have heard, the Toronto Public School Board just voted to open a "black-focused" school. The reasons cited, is that in Toronto, there is a higher high school drop out rate among black student (25% [African decent]-40% [Caribbean decent]), and they hope that having a focus school will help keep them in school.
My first reaction was, we want to keep kids in school (which I still stand by), but I'm really not sure this is the way to do it. No matter what they say, to me, it stinks of segregation. The school board tries to argue that it's not segregation if they can choose to go or not, but all I can think of is the segregation (where there is also a choice) going on in other parts of the country, especially Quebec and New Brunswick. All I've seen out of those situations is pain, and misunderstanding, which causes a divide that doesn't need to be there.
This is Canada's first "black" school, but I know America has some (and even more historically), so my question is, for those who have seen or experienced situations like this before, what do you think of this "solution"?
Also, off topic, but I can't tell you how much I *head desked* when I read the article about this in the Washington Times, when they talked about our "American Indians" WTF? I know that people sometimes have trouble figuring out what to call the Natives of North America in general, but what kind of name is American Indians? Especially for *Canadian* aboriginals. *shakes head*
As some of you may have heard, the Toronto Public School Board just voted to open a "black-focused" school. The reasons cited, is that in Toronto, there is a higher high school drop out rate among black student (25% [African decent]-40% [Caribbean decent]), and they hope that having a focus school will help keep them in school.
My first reaction was, we want to keep kids in school (which I still stand by), but I'm really not sure this is the way to do it. No matter what they say, to me, it stinks of segregation. The school board tries to argue that it's not segregation if they can choose to go or not, but all I can think of is the segregation (where there is also a choice) going on in other parts of the country, especially Quebec and New Brunswick. All I've seen out of those situations is pain, and misunderstanding, which causes a divide that doesn't need to be there.
This is Canada's first "black" school, but I know America has some (and even more historically), so my question is, for those who have seen or experienced situations like this before, what do you think of this "solution"?
Also, off topic, but I can't tell you how much I *head desked* when I read the article about this in the Washington Times, when they talked about our "American Indians" WTF? I know that people sometimes have trouble figuring out what to call the Natives of North America in general, but what kind of name is American Indians? Especially for *Canadian* aboriginals. *shakes head*
Re: Focused schools
No! No, no. I wrote my response at like 1:30 in the morning yesterday, and when I finished I kind of thought it came off wrong, but, well, I was tired (but couldn't sleep, damn it!). You didn't at all, and I really appreciated what you had to say.
I think I was thinking about it a lot last night, and it was making me a bit uncomfortable regarding some of the comments that I was making over on my IJ (I try to always post to both of my journals), I hate talking about crime with respect to specific ethnic groups, it's something we really avoid doing in Canada (like the plague), so doing so left me feeling kind of dirty, and I think that came across in my post.
Also, as I implied in my original posts, in the areas that I live there are segregated schools based on your language, and it's caused some major problems, to the point where it's been screwing over the country as a whole. I will openly admit that I carry negative prejudices against the French (well, more separatists, but still). Seeing what's occurred here, it makes me really uncomfortable with the idea of further segregation.
Also, there was definitely some anti-American whining involved on my part, 'cause I really do hate the added layer of complexity when referring to North America as a whole. Sorry about that. And for sounding so testy in general. Will you forgive me?
Also, I was trying to text you earlier since I wasn't sure you'd be online
...What service do you use for texting? I'm hardly ever on, mostly because people are all over the place, and I can never find people on, which means I hardly ever go on, and it's a big vicious circle.
good luck with your surgery tomorrow!
Thanks! I'm still not really nervous, I think it's come up too quick, I'm not even overly excited. I think it hasn't really sunk in yet. :P Which reminds me, I really have to read over the rules. I know there are a lot of weird ones, like not being able to wear deodorant the day of the surgery....
See you on the other side (hopefully)!