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Yesterday I bumped into an old friend on the street who I haven’t seen in years. After exchanging the usual ‘what have you been up to?’ pleasantries, she said, “You know I have to ask you this -What do you think of black-focused schools?”
I was slightly taken aback, but I told her how I felt. I thought it was a good thing but of course, I had my reservations, as I don’t think that it is going to solve all the problems of young Black youth. “I think its segregation and its wrong” she replied. Now, I admire this woman wholeheartedly and didn’t really want to get into an argument with her, so I remained silent.
In hindsight, I don’t feel bad for not wanting to continue the conversation about Black-focused schools. The decision by the Toronto Board of Education had only been announced late the night before, and the topic was on the forefront of people’s minds. So it wasn’t totally strange that she had brought it up – plus, she knows that I have pretty strong opinions on race. So why is it still on my mind now?
The segregation thing. Folks have been crying about segregation since this idea was thrown into the media spotlight a couple of years ago. There have also been cries of racism – perpetrated by Blacks, that is – and of course, the usual accusations that us Negroes are yet again, asking for some sort of handout, blaming white folks because we cannot control our kids. People who probably had to look up Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement on Wikipedia are now quoting his “I Have a Dream” speech, believing that Torontonians have reverted back into the 50’s. I say bullshit.
Segregation, in the way that it is being used in this situation, is simply false and sensationalistic. Black-focused schools do not mean that non-Black children will be denied access, but that the culture of the school will be based in afrocentrism. Plus, there are currently 36 alternative schools financed by the Toronto board of Education which including religious, private schools and schools for Gays, Lesbians and Tran gendered students. Get your facts straight!
So this is the plan, folks: The motion that was passed will allow:
1. A Black-focused alternative school to be open by the fall of 2009
2. The start of a three-year pilot program in three high schools
3. Work with (Toronto’s) York University ( my Alma Mater) to find ways to improve school achievement
4. The development of a plan to help failing students
From Sandy at Crux-of the-Matter says;
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.
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.
Despite her questionable tone, Sandy does have a point. I do not think that it is the “system” overall that is letting down Black youth, but from my experience, there are a number of factors that for some, make the educational years within the public school system not only an unpleasant experience, but a time that can affect the lives of students for years after they leave - not only emotionally but from an educational and economic standpoint.
First, just because a person is responsible for teaching children, does not mean that they do not have personal issues. If a teacher harbors racist thoughts, or has prejudices and /or racial biases, why would anyone think that they are automatically going to leave that facet of their personality behind when they go to work? Do your co-workers?
When I was in public school, my teacher was reading Huckleberry Finn to the class and every time
