Africentric school enrols 56 students for September

[ironsight2000]

The city's first-ever school to focus on the needs of black students has surpassed its enrolment goals and will open in September as planned, the Toronto District School Board says.

The board says the school has enrolled 56 students and, based on the numbers, will have a combined junior and senior kindergarten, a Grade 1 class, a combined Grade 2/3 class and a combined Grade 4/5 class.

The board adds that it is still accepting new registrations for the school throughout the spring and summer.

"These enrolment figures are conservative estimates," says Ward 5 Trustee James Pasternak in a release issued Tuesday.

"However, they certainly point in a positive direction. It is a refection of the importance for the TDSB to introduce relevant and creative curriculum delivery methods that meet the needs of our diverse students and their communities."

The school will be located within Sheppard Public School, on Sheppard Avenue West near Keele Street. It will incorporate African-centred content into the Ministry of Education curriculum.

http://cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/2...0/?hub=CP24Home

they fought for the right to go to school with every one else not they want their own school.

[qdave]

I always thought that living in Canada it should be CANADA-centric education system. I thought wrong. So what are they going to do there? introduce new subjects like "african history" which is in no way related to canadian history. Canada was built by European hands mostly. If they don't like it they can leave back to their carribean homes.

[tiagosilva29]

[ironsight2000]

I always thought that living in Canada it should be CANADA-centric education system. I thought wrong. So what are they going to do there? introduce new subjects like "african history" which is in no way related to canadian history. Canada was built by European hands mostly. If they don't like it they can leave back to their carribean homes.

they are going to teach every thing to do with African culture and whats important to them. and if any one who is not African would not be allowed to attend.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

I always thought that living in Canada it should be CANADA-centric education system. I thought wrong. So what are they going to do there? introduce new subjects like "african history" which is in no way related to canadian history. Canada was built by European hands mostly. If they don't like it they can leave back to their carribean homes.

And Europe consists of many countries. Canada is a multicultural country. Canadians aren't of one race or culture. It's a mixture of different people from everywhere. It's a country that was built through centuries of immigration. Seriously, your comment about ostracizing them to their "Caribbean" homes was unnecessary. There was an apparent need for an afro-centric school and that need is being relieved. Out of all places, Canada would be the best place to do it because of our society's attitude toward cultural differences.

Honestly, I would've never expected to read something so despicable on Neowin. As a Canadian, I am utterly disgusted and insulted. :crazy:

[ironsight2000]

And Europe consists of many countries. Canada is a multicultural country. Canadians aren't of one race or culture. It's a mixture of different people from everywhere. It's a country that was built through centuries of immigration. Seriously, your comment about ostracizing them to their "Caribbean" homes was unnecessary. There was an apparent need for an afro-centric school and that need is being relieved. Out of all places, Canada would be the best place to do it because of our society's attitude toward cultural differences.

Honestly, I would've never expected to read something so despicable on Neowin. As a Canadian, I am utterly disgusted and insulted. :crazy:

Morgan freeman said it best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO214IFRW1M

[VADA]

Is Canada becoming Apartheid? I know there already are religious schools (Christian and Jewish mostly) for primary and secondary education in the West but cultural centric?

Is this school for African Americans children or for African children (meaning children of recent African immigrants or of Diplomatic members). Does it include any African children (not based upon race) or simply non-cacausian African children?

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Is Canada becoming Apartheid? I know there already are religious schools (Christian and Jewish mostly) for primary and secondary education in the West but cultural centric?

Is this school for African Americans children or for African children (meaning children of recent African immigrants or of Diplomatic members). Does it include any African children (not based upon race) or simply non-cacausian African children?

No, it isn't. They proposed the idea of an afro-centric school to address the issue of outrageously high drop out rates for young black men in Canada. If I remember correctly, it was 40%.

[VADA]

Morgan freeman said it best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO214IFRW1M

That's an awesome clip. Morgan Freeman is my new hero.

[ironsight2000]

read the article they already have people enrolled it starts this fall

[Evolution]

yaah racism on the opposite side!

[VADA]

No, it isn't. They proposed the idea of an afro-centric school to address the issue of outrageously high drop out rates for young black men in Canada. If I remember correctly, it was 40%.

No offense to Canada or anything but creating an African American school simply because children of a certain race drop out at a rate of 40% is not the solution. If it were I would suspect the school would have had enrollment in the thousands (not just 56).

I'm not saying there isn't a problem that should not be addressed but, simply that the problem is perhaps not the schools from which the children drop out, but their parents. However, the reason for the dropout rates are not racial but simply economic status. Children which grow up in a lower economic status tend to drop out of highschool at a much higher rate than those which grew up in affluent homes.

These are not my figures but the U.S. Department of education http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/2007024.pdf

10% for Low income families as supposed to 2.5% in high income homes (2004 figures).

However, I am not sure how the Canadian educational system is governed, but for example in Germany children of a low socioeconomic status are relegated to trade-schools. While the children of afluent socioeconomic status will move on to obtain degrees (Engineering, Doctors, Lawyers, etc) and therefore obtain better paying jobs.

The reason for this is because children of affluent parents will send their children to private schools, which people of low income cannot afford (especially since Germans pay 40% in taxes). This causes children who attend private schools to obtain a better education and gain entry into better Colleges and so forth (its like a domino effect). It also so happens the majority of low income families are also of Middle Eastern descent (not all of them).

Why are the worst schools in the low income neighborhoods? For several reasons, but primarily it is taxes paid. Most low income families either pay less in taxes or try to avoid taxes altogether. This in turn causes the schools located in their vicinity to obtain less funding (due to less taxes paid) and therefore less opportunities and extracurricular activies or things like computers, etc. In addition, the schools do not attract the best teachers in the industry and coupled with criminal as well as lack of interest from the parents all of these things combine to make matters worse.

So it is not a matter of race or even a cultural matter (although many Middle Eastern men frown upon educating women), but a socioeconomic problem. That is why vouchers were introduced in the U.S. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_vouchers but have not been widely used by parents and Teachers Unions oppose this measure (since it would make them accountable).

Just my $.02

[ironsight2000]

now that their is a afro-centric now we need a asian-centric <insert race>-centric school its the only way will segregation /end sarcasm

[qdave]

The drop out rate is because of how they live in their ghettos. They are locked up with crime, drugs etc. The root of the problem is where they live! I don't think you would see black drop out rate much higher than white drop out rate in an affluent neighbourhood school.

The solution is not to segregate them and teach them different things. If the attitudes at that school come from their ghetto background then it will not make a difference and the crime, drugs and dropping out will come to that school. It is to educate the young folk right in those troubled communities. Maybe changing the curiculum to one more focused towards the needs of those young impressionable people who are so easily swayed by thug life.

I am sure experts put out lots of solutions, but sadly they were ignored since they were viewed as racist.

To the "offended" people:

Africa consists of many different peoples and countries and even i would say races. So how is teaching "african" culture any different than teaching "european" culture. In fact canadians are taught only western european culture anyways, fully ignoring the east. And that is because the first settlers here were british/french. I don't see anything wrong with that. Now africans came a lot after the country was founded. You are just offended because you were brainwashed from a young age that anything bad said about blacks is racism and has to be ridiculled in public.

There is a great saying in the Russian Jail subculture. If you are offended at something that's not your concern, then you are naturally putting your *** out to get f****ed.

[Hernan Dayoleary]

they fought for the right to go to school with every one else not they want their own school.

 

 

Who fought to go to school with everyone else? Canada is a cultural mosaic, we are not America, we are not a melting pot.  And the fact they want their own school simply proves how bad they believe the majority culture is mistreating them.

 

 

 

I always thought that living in Canada it should be CANADA-centric education system. I thought wrong. So what are they going to do there? introduce new subjects like "african history" which is in no way related to canadian history. Canada was built by European hands mostly. If they don't like it they can leave back to their carribean homes.

 

If you feel African history isn't relevent to Canadian history, isn't that just a reason they should have their own school?

Ah the go back to your country card, the racist favourite card.  OR IF THEY don't like your system they can just make their own system, you know, like the greeks, italians, french, english, irish, in toronto with their speciality schools do as well!

 

 

they are going to teach every thing to do with African culture and whats important to them. and if any one who is not African would not be allowed to attend.

 

non-blacks can attend

 

And Europe consists of many countries. Canada is a multicultural country. Canadians aren't of one race or culture. It's a mixture of different people from everywhere. It's a country that was built through centuries of immigration. Seriously, your comment about ostracizing them to their "Caribbean" homes was unnecessary. There was an apparent need for an afro-centric school and that need is being relieved. Out of all places, Canada would be the best place to do it because of our society's attitude toward cultural differences.

Honestly, I would've never expected to read something so despicable on Neowin. As a Canadian, I am utterly disgusted and insulted.

 

It should be expected, that is why there is a need for afrocentric schooling, to get black children away from people like that who are throughout the school system.  For all we know he could be a teacher.

 

 

Is Canada becoming Apartheid? I know there already are religious schools (Christian and Jewish mostly) for primary and secondary education in the West but cultural centric?

Is this school for African Americans children or for African children (meaning children of recent African immigrants or of Diplomatic members). Does it include any African children (not based upon race) or simply non-cacausian African children?

 

Canada was apartheid from the day Europeans arrived and planted a flag here.  There are over 70+ speciality schools in toronto alone, including greek, ukranian, italian, lgbt, aboriginal, chinese, indian, urdu, pashtun etc

 

no- non-blacks have chosen to enroll but are allowed to if they apply.  The school is designed for african and carribean canadian children.

 

 

No offense to Canada or anything but creating an African American school simply because children of a certain race drop out at a rate of 40% is not the solution. If it were I would suspect the school would have had enrollment in the thousands (not just 56).

I'm not saying there isn't a problem that should not be addressed but, simply that the problem is perhaps not the schools from which the children drop out, but their parents. However, the reason for the dropout rates are not racial but simply economic status. Children which grow up in a lower economic status tend to drop out of highschool at a much higher rate than those which grew up in affluent homes.

These are not my figures but the U.S. Department of education http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/2007024.pdf

10% for Low income families as supposed to 2.5% in high income homes (2004 figures).

However, I am not sure how the Canadian educational system is governed, but for example in Germany children of a low socioeconomic status are relegated to trade-schools. While the children of afluent socioeconomic status will move on to obtain degrees (Engineering, Doctors, Lawyers, etc) and therefore obtain better paying jobs.

The reason for this is because children of affluent parents will send their children to private schools, which people of low income cannot afford (especially since Germans pay 40% in taxes). This causes children who attend private schools to obtain a better education and gain entry into better Colleges and so forth (its like a domino effect). It also so happens the majority of low income families are also of Middle Eastern descent (not all of them).

Why are the worst schools in the low income neighborhoods? For several reasons, but primarily it is taxes paid. Most low income families either pay less in taxes or try to avoid taxes altogether. This in turn causes the schools located in their vicinity to obtain less funding (due to less taxes paid) and therefore less opportunities and extracurricular activies or things like computers, etc. In addition, the schools do not attract the best teachers in the industry and coupled with criminal as well as lack of interest from the parents all of these things combine to make matters worse.

So it is not a matter of race or even a cultural matter (although many Middle Eastern men frown upon educating women), but a socioeconomic problem. That is why vouchers were introduced in the U.S. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_vouchers but have not been widely used by parents and Teachers Unions oppose this measure (since it would make them accountable).

Just my $.02

 

 

The parents argument doesn't fly because on average Jamaican and african parents are more educated than the white canadians.  According to stats can, 21% of Jamaican canadians have college degrees, compared to just 15% of average canadians. 19% of africans have ph.d and masters comapred to just 15% of average canadians. The school has a waiting list and can only take in so many students.

The problem isn't economic status.  8 studies from 1989 to present which have all concluded need for an afrocentric school in ontario.  They studied black students from all economic levels and found the same thing.  Even black students whose parents were doctors, lawyers etc underperform.

We are not America, so american stats don't apply.

Ontario schools are provincially funded which means low income areas get MORE funding than high income areas. But it levels out with fundraising.

It is a matter of culture, and to deny it is to have your head in the sand.  Mainstream euro-culture and euro-education vilinized black culture and students and the black students lose interest and drop out.

 

 

 

now that their is a afro-centric now we need a asian-centric <insert race>-centric school its the only way will segregation /end sarcasm

 

 

They already have them 70+ centric schools in toronto

 

 

The drop out rate is because of how they live in their ghettos. They are locked up with crime, drugs etc. The root of the problem is where they live! I don't think you would see black drop out rate much higher than white drop out rate in an affluent neighbourhood school.

The solution is not to segregate them and teach them different things. If the attitudes at that school come from their ghetto background then it will not make a difference and the crime, drugs and dropping out will come to that school. It is to educate the young folk right in those troubled communities. Maybe changing the curiculum to one more focused towards the needs of those young impressionable people who are so easily swayed by thug life.

I am sure experts put out lots of solutions, but sadly they were ignored since they were viewed as racist.

To the "offended" people:

Africa consists of many different peoples and countries and even i would say races. So how is teaching "african" culture any different than teaching "european" culture. In fact canadians are taught only western european culture anyways, fully ignoring the east. And that is because the first settlers here were british/french. I don't see anything wrong with that. Now africans came a lot after the country was founded. You are just offended because you were brainwashed from a young age that anything bad said about blacks is racism and has to be ridiculled in public.

There is a great saying in the Russian Jail subculture. If you are offended at something that's not your concern, then you are naturally putting your *** out to get f****ed.

 

Not according to the studies done.  The studies show black students at all levels of the income scale up to 250k a year underperform whites on aveage.  The problem isn't where they live or crimes or drugs or gangs, those are just things after the student loses interest in the eurocentric curriculum which is anti-black and eurocentric rule enforcement system.

 

Your view is a eurocentrick view of africa.  How you view africa, and africans and carribeans is not how these people view themselves.  Just like how Japanese may have viewed Americans as pigs and foolish in world war 2, is not how Americans obviously view themselves.

 

Canada/Ontario has eurocentric schools, and we do not IGNORE the east, greek is eastern europe and is given alot of attention.  Further there are several greek and ukranian centric schools in toronto.  iknow, I went to a ukranian centric school in toronto.

 

It is your eurocentric view that leads you to believe africans came after europeans. The africentric scholars disagree with you and the eurocentric scholars on this and say blacks were first.

 

It is quiet obvious that eurocentric education and africentric education are incompatible forms of systems, which is why the obvious answer is to split them up and have different systems.

[Shiranui]

Misread the title

[FloatingFatMan]

Isn't 56 kinda..... low?  Surely, if the drop out rate from mainstream schools is 40%, how come the enrolment rate at this specialist school is only 56?

[seta-san]

have you ever read afrocentric literature or argued with one?  they are insane and god do they hold on to Egypt with all their might.

[firey]

this was bumped up from 6 years ago... wonder if it is still around..

[Piggy]

now that their is a afro-centric now we need a asian-centric <insert race>-centric school its the only way will segregation /end sarcasm

 

We already have those in Burnaby / Vancouver. When you get a high school with 85%+ Asians you know things are changing.

[redfish]

No, it isn't. They proposed the idea of an afro-centric school to address the issue of outrageously high drop out rates for young black men in Canada. If I remember correctly, it was 40%.

 

Interestingly, some of the people who argued for segregated schools back in the 50s, said they ended up serving the black students better.

[123456789A]

They need to start a school for Windows Phone users too. We are an oppressed minority.