CTV News Ottawa

Edb
Didn't the press crucify
John Tory for wanting to fund religious schools ?
Where's the outcry about funding based on race ? When do we start funding Euro-centric shools? Or would that be racist.

Scott M
I will not support race based schools financially. I consider them blatant segregation. Therefore, I will check the box on my Provincial Tax return to have my education taxes sent to the Catholic Board.

I will also remember this for a long time and will not vote for any incumbent on the Toronto Board in the next Municipal election.

I encourage all sensible Canadians to do the same.

This is an outrage. I remember a time when there were demonstration down in the States and Canada to stop segregation in Schools, now these incompetent idiots want to do it again. Not with my money!!

Buck
Don't complain to the rest of society about segregation when you set times back a hundred years on your own doing. The kids should be together in schools and not separated by skin colour or ethnic background. What do we do when the asian community or the greek community want the board to set up schools for them? This is just a poor move backwards and the blame for poor parenting is being put on the over-worked, under-funded school board.

Laura
This policy does not represent a progressive step forward. Instead of attempting to rectify the current deficiencies within the existing program, shortcomings that affect many marginalized students, this policy responds to a select segment of the population and further compounds segregation.

Ian
An unimaginable slap in the face to those who fought for integration decades ago.
Can the Toronto school board reconcile why other black students do graduate from the system and go on to have productive professional lives?

Kris
This is sick! This is just another example of how we as Canadians are so willing to blame the system for the failings of an individual or group that we allow groups to self segregate them selves from the larger community.

kathy
I notice that a lot of the criticism about this is coming from 'white' people. Don't you think that black people have the right to decide what is best for their own children. And of course everyone is claiming that they will try and change but let's be honest, black kids are discriminated against and they are often on the outside of the white clique's in school. Perhaps having their own schools won't make them feel like outsiders and they will be encouraged to learn instead of worrying about how different they are and how to fit in. As long as they have a choice as to where they go to school then I support them and I sincerely hope they succeed.

JC
I fear this will only lead to the downfall of the public school system. By separating colour, does this mean that the colour of a person's skin determines the intelligence of an individual?? I believe the problem of dropouts is not the colour of a person's skin but rather poverty, and gangs that are on the streets. The school is not the problem, violence and gangs are the problem. Segragating the population will in my opinion only worsen the situation by separating an individual by the colour of their skin.

Ahmed
As a Canadian of African origin and father, who went through the Ontario school system, I found this idea of separate school for blacks the most ridiculous I have heard of for a long time. What is with this notion of creating a separate school for blacks only; What is that telling us about blacks? We need to educate people so that they can thrive within the Ontario and Canadian context not to teach them from obscurely concocted heritage that does not exist in reality given that a Jamaican and Kenyans have little in common beside their skin color. Therefore, given that blacks do not have all the same culture, it is demeaning to think otherwise. Next, in all groups there are those who excel and those who do not what and we all know. Would that mean that in Ontario we should create a special school for every ethnic group or, is it that people are implying that there is something special about blacks. Please is there any sensed person left in that board to stop the ridiculous!

Pat
The one thing in particular that bothers me about this Afrocentred School system is .. how do we now meet and make friends with one another? My very loved friend in High School, a black teen, would not have become my friend if we didn't go to school together.. This is segregation no matter what they call it!

Alfred Thein
to "kathy"

How do you assume all these posters are white?

I think having segregated schools is very backwards and is a blatantly racist policy. Schools should promote learning for all people of all races. Do black people need special schooling? No. They are human like the rest of us.

The problem with the high dropout rate with black students is a symptom of a greater social malaise. This afro-centric school idea is a slap-patch for a gaping social wound.

"Don't you think that black people have the right to decide what is best for their own children. And of course everyone is claiming that they will try and change but let's be honest, black kids are discriminated against and they are often on the outside of the white clique's in school."

Have you been to a highschool recently. I live beside one, and I see all kids mingle, black white chinese etc.

Colin
The more we segregate, the more racial hatred there will be. Well done! We will be like the US 40+ years ago!!! If they are dropping out, don't segregate, force the parents to get involved!!!

B. Gray
This is backwards, and quite suprising. But here's a litte reference:

Brown v. Board of Education, 1954

"On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court handed down its decision regarding the case called Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, in which the plaintiffs charged that the education of black children in separate public schools from their white counterparts was unconstitutional. The opinion of the Court stated that the "segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children."

I find it interesting that were looking to take a leap backwards and seperate kids based upon their race. Call it what you will, but this is what is happening. If back in 1954 they could figure out in Kansas it was a terrible practice, then why in 2008 is the Toronto School board even giving notion to such a terrible idea?

Their intentions may be good but the idea is horrible. If it's all about keeping black students in school, then they need to look for a better way.

John
Why don't we get everyone who feels discriminated against his own separate school then! To affirm that white people are forming a "clique" in schools that results in minorities performing poorly is an ignorant and racist statement.

Mike
I guess the next step will be to have separate busses and bathrooms and final piece will be to transport Toronto back n time to the southern US in the 1950s. What an embarrassment this is.

Coco Lopez
There was a recent series of stories in the Washington Post detailing how successful 'afro-centric' schools have been in Washington, D.C. Glad to hear Toronto is jumping on board with such a fantastic initiative. Maybe first the City of Toronto needs to re-criminalize weed, at least during Toronto District School Board meetings. (Assuming that's what they've been smoking.)

JPC
Isn't this racial profiling? Or just another way for politicians to take yet more money from my paycheque...

Chris
Why is the onus being put on the school board? Where the heck are the parents of the kids that are failing? Should they not take the blame? I know when I had trouble in school, my parents were the first ones to accept blame and help fix the problem. They didn't blame the school or the board.

My problem with this whole deal is that the school board is seeming to say that the 40% of black students that drop out drop out because they're black.

James
I agree with the last comment. If we do not want to fund religious schools, why fund schools based on race. This will open up a HUGE can of worms for other groups to do the same. Address the root cause of the issue, and target why the students have such a high dropout rate. Our tax dollars should not be used to fund such centric programs. Kids will complete their education only if they want to. Motivation to stay in school will not be affected by such programs.

Karl
Kathy,
This decision just smacks of reverse discrimination. Canada is a multicultural society according to the provincial/federal governments and as such the idea of schools teaching only African studies along with the 'approved' provincial curriculum is only going to further divide our communities. If we allow this to go forward, what is next? Jamaican-centric, Japanese-centric, Italian-centric, WASP-centric, Polish-centric schools? When does it stop? What about being Canadian? What about learning what it is to be Canadian?

Allan Eizinas
This is a major mistake.

Anyone want to bet that now these Afrocentric schools will require “special” and “additional” start-up and operational funding?

Anyone want to bet that now these Afrocentric schools will hire “specially screened and appropriate” teachers, support staff and additional remedial support (special education) assistants because of the “exceptional” nature of these schools?

Anyone want to bet that every possible resource, financial and bureaucratic, will become available to try to make sure that this politically correct experiment and mistake does not appear to become a mistake?

Peter
I guess the next vote will be on the Asia-centric school and the Euro-centric school.

I have a hard time believing any intelligent elected official actually think this is a great idea. Didn't Ontario, not long ago, vote to standardize the school curriculum.
So where does this fit in?

Jac
Kathy, although I am not originally from Ontario, I am confused with your statement. I certainly did not witness any race issues or non acceptance from those in my school district. Nor did I witness it when I went for any post secondary education.

Perhaps if you know cases, you should file a human rights violation with your school board.

SH
THe important issue here is how far will this go? Will the board insist on only black teachers? will the curriculum be modified to suit black schooling? Will different standards of education be established specifically for black schools?

Mark
The KKK down south is cheering the Toronto School Board on.

They would like us to work on separating out the Asians and Indians next.

This decision is just silly.

Anne R
To Kathy
Why don't we work at trying to get the blacks and whites into the same groups (at some school it already is that way). Why complain they get treated differently and go out and ensure they are treated differently. I am white and have black friends and I have tried to get an understanding of this, but even by black friends don't understand the logic of it.

Bob H
I do not agree at all. The way the world was in the 50s and 60s to fight against such a thing and now they want to reverse this? Crazy!!
You call this multiculturalism? I don't think so! The next thing is the rest of the differnt cultures will want the same. NOT!!! I hope public money (taxes) does not have to pay for this. What is the world coming to, better still what is happening to our great land, Canada, land of MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY? Too much giving in to political correctness.

Dan
For the record, I am black. I disagree with segregation. All students, regardless of colour should attend school together. Why is it not racist to have a black centred school, but if whites asked for a white centred school there would be screams of racism from the media and black community? Equality works in both directions. Segregating people based on skin colour is wrong. For that matter, segregation based on religion, or any other factor is also wrong.

Bob
A damn disgrace. Ahmed was right when he said that not all blacks share the same culture or have anything in common other than their race. I cannot believe the short sighted decision they have made here. We have to stop this.

RGB
If you already have schools based on religion (yes this includes catholic schools, for some reason they always feel exempt from any of this), you have no basis to denounce schools based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction. All, or nothing, you can't just pick and choose.

George
I don't believe this is a step forward, this is a step backwards. Schools should be mixed. What would happen if the tables were turned and it was an All White School? Would that be racist?

Jennilyn
No matter what anyone calls it, this is segregation and I hope this system fails because it’s basing intelligence on race. I don’t want my tax dollars going to a school system like this. How will these students learn to be with people of other races outside of school?

Nikalas
If they think discrimination is happening now. Imagine in the future when these students have this school on their resume. It's going to look they've gone to a "special school" for people who can't function in a regular system. Employers may avoid them.

Philip Ling
I am not black ,but I support this new school .
Most here argue that this is bringing racism back are simply dead wrong .. but you must understand the real reason for this action is not to separate our kids,it is to help them!

AJ
As a Black man, I would have to say that I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE with black focused schools. We have schools that are focused on religion which is a choice. Race is not a choice.

These black focused school will not encourage let's say the shooters of the late Jordan Manners to stay in school, or not to pick up a gun period. I'm sorry but everyone can agree that this behavoiur is learned on the streets. I've been there.

My focus to stay in school was because I had my parents very involved with my life with a heavy emphasis on getting a good education.
...
Its very unfortunate but the kids that are prone to dropping out are not influence by the lack of cultural focus of schools (if so then there a few other races that I can think of that doesn't have the same issue. What we have to look at is the external circumstances to why they are the way they are.

Dennis L. Krahn
Why can't we just be ' CANADIANS '?

We are by choice fracturing our country into small pieces that young men and women of many nationalities and beliefs died protecting. These people died for ' CANADA '; we are heading down a slippery slope at the bottom of which lies a mess like that of countries in Africa that are ruled by tribal law rather than democracy.

In closing there are a lot of people in Canada who do not seem to be content with being a Canadian and quietly embracing tried and true customs; maybe they should leave.

Corey Cousineau
This is the beginning of the end. I grew up white in Detroit in the 60s and 70s. No matter how many Harriet Tubman classes they gave us, I still got beat up on the streets (perhaps more eloquently though with greater venom), and they still had armed guards and security badges for the students at my high school. Feed the kids at school and educate the parents. Maybe do something real about the drug situation on the streets and the gangs won't be such an easy sell. If the system is broken, fix it for everybody, don't just create a new system for one segment of the student population.

AJ
Ahmed, perfect you hit it on the nose.

Black people as a race is formed by multiple cultures, which one do you focus on.

But I do have to say, as a correction to others. These schools are not "Black only".
THAT would be segregation. But honestly despite the fact that it is open to all I highly doubt there would be any other race attending

James Williams
Martin Luther King JR, Rosa Banks must be turning in their graves on this day.
One small step for some huge egos, one giant step backwards.

MP
Let's put aside the racial aspect. Everyone has their take on that.

What I'm more concerned is the curriculum. These kids still need to learn Math, Language, Science, Economics and so forth...the same subjects you'll find in any other school across Ontario.

Last time I checked the value of "Pi = 3.1415..." or that the word "AND" is used as a grammatic conjunction and that "Toronto" is the city capital of Ontario.

I simply don't see how an "ethnic-specific" campus will teach them those basic skills any differently.

Richard Perrier
It's 1963

I'm an 8 Year old White Catholic living in Ottawa's New Edinburgh neighbourhood, going to an English Catholic school.

It's 18 years since WWII finished, Dad works out of town and Mom is an ignorant bigot.

Before going out I'm instructed not to play with the German kids down the street or any Protestants(No Blacks in our neighbourhood so no directions about them). (As if an 8 Year-Old can see this stamped on their foreheads anyway.)

Being a normal child these instructions were forgotten by the time I hit the sidewalk out our front door.

End result, I had a great childhood traipsing through the Rideau Hall grounds and Rockliffe Park with our Merry Band of French and English speaking Catholics, (With very serious language barriers that we somehow managed to work around regardless) German Lutherans and English Anglicans.

A couple of years later, Mom enrolls me in the local Boy Scout Troop, St.Luke's Lutheran. (It took Mom several years before realizing this was a flavour of Protestantism. LOL)

I wind up at Lisgar Collegiate (Public High School) and the United Nations of Schools in Canada, almost every Embassy sent their children here.

First interactions with Blacks, Middle-Eastern, Eastern-European, communists, Asiatics etc. etc.

Endless sorties and parties with all of them and the Realization with Utmost Clarity that we are all identical, laugh at the same jokes, cry over the same heartbreaks, suffer the same way when physically bent, spindled or mutilated on the sports field, share the same school spirit and so on.

It's 2008 now.

So PLEEEEEASE tell me how you will learn all this in a segregated school.

If you're not sitting at the same table breaking and sharing bread, you can't possibly know someone.

Wake up folks!!!

This is < NOT > the solution, it lies elsewhere.