Toronto District School Board considers implementing race-based schools for black Canadian youth: Would education segregated by race be beneficial?

No

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by Robin Bond

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I am scratching my head, in hopes that someone will please point out, why in the world we would do something so utterly stupid.

Let me first point out, that although I am a woman of a simple Canadian, Caucasian background, I am in love with a man of Afro-american culture, and my children have mixed ancestry. That said, I don't want any hate mail stating that I am a white supremacist or anything like that.

But, I thought Canada was a country that was built on equality, on integration, on multiculturalism?

When we begin to divide our schools, by colour, or race, or creed, than we are teaching our children that you are different, if you are a different colour. That a black person, can't do well in a white school. What does that tell our children? Are we then going to segregate work places? Maybe a person of colour won't work so well in a white environment, or vice versa... We will accompany them?

Now, I know, I know. Ms. Harrow has said that this proposal is to teach the Ontario curriculum and "enrich" it with material that centers "around the positive contribution of black people to our society."

She tells us that this has absolutely nothing to do with segregation, and that any child who was interested in going to the "Afro-centric school" may do so.

So, then, what's the point of more of our tax dollars heading off to start up another school, that everyone can go to?
Why not just encourage the school board to come up with more ways to encourage children of different backgrounds to stay in school, and show the amazing contributions of people of every colour to our society?

Having a school that devotes it's time and energy trying to prove to ANY student that it is possible to succeed is not what makes a person actually succeed in school.

Having a solid family, with morals, and values, a good network of friends, and supportive relationship with your parents will take precedence over anything.

If we were calling out for a school, where we banned things such as fasting, or religious head gear, or black history month, so we would have more time to focus on positive things that white people have done for their community, there would be an outrage right now.

There would be people of all colours, picketing along the entire sidelines of the city, and it would only be right.

Last year, my sister was unable to cook a turkey on thanksgiving in her family studies class, because it was a fasting day for many other students. My sister didn't come home saying she wished her school was circled around her "white" culture. She accepted it, made the turkey the next day, and ate it with her multicultural friends.

Canada is built on freedom, and acceptance. We have worked long, and damn hard to get to where we are. Our ancestors have fought for generations to eliminate hatred, and indifference towards people.

If you can't accept that segregation is no longer acceptable, than maybe you are in the wrong country.

And ... just to play devils advocate on this one ... if you ask me ...

I think this idea almost positively STEMS from upper class WHITE society, trying to push for segregation, trying to promote seclusion within our school boards. If you ask me, this isn't about "enriching" any culture. It's about them doing something they wanted done so long ago.

It's about them doing exactly what our ancestors fought against.

But, that's just my opinion. I am quite sure though that Sir Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks, are up there shaking their heads right now, wondering if their efforts were in vain...

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