Toronto School Board eyes another "centric" school

[Shwa]

Toronto District School Board has announced they are considering yet another "centric" school catering to the needs of a "small" minority at the expense of the "big" majority once again. And this minority doesn't even pay taxes, can barely read let along speak English and cost the taxpayers millions every year!!

My initial - almost automatic - response to this proposal is one of offence. It seems to me a beautiful example of some state-sanctioned mini-culturalism that has gone madly awry. When will this madness end?

Yes, it is true, this new "centric" school will be based at Thorncliffe Park Elementary on Eglinton and will be a school that is kindergarten-centric - you know the snot nosed little JK & SK's.

TDSB Reportedly Considering All-Kindergarten School

So now, instead of learning good old fashioned "Canadian" values, they are going to teach them about all the different colours and no doubt use the dubious, unscientific "blocks" method. Not to mention how much learning time will be lost because the education system has to adapt to the concept of "naptime" and "snacks." These tot-folk are different from us and we'll have to pick up th tab for their insolence, extra juice box waste disposal and god forbid: the odd pee-pants.

What's next? We start making schools specifically for Grade One through Eight? Then people will start demanding schools for teenagers only! When will this outrage end?

I think we should stand up and demand an accounting NOW for this outrageous tot-centric school idea. We do this now or one day - ONE DAY SOON - all of our faces will be "washed in gravy."

Edited November 25, 2009 by Shwa

[M.Dancer]

The Rick Mercer Report airs weekly.

[Shwa]

The Rick Mercer Report airs weekly.

Was this story on The Mercer Report too? I just saw it on CityTV News at 6 tonight. Mercer must have a mole on the TDSB!

[charter.rights]

I also heard today on CBC Radio 1 that TDSB is also considering an all-boys school. Sounds to me more like apartheid and segregation is creeping into Toronto...I guess the minorities are trying to force upon us an education where kids stay with their "own kind". Tots and boys....the depravity! What next, all-girls schools? Or maybe private schools?

[Gabriel]

Shwa and chater.rights - How do you two feel about the idea of an all-black school (or school board, or series of schools, or whatever)? Did you two support that idea when it was making headlines?

[Shwa]

I also heard today on CBC Radio 1 that TDSB is also considering an all-boys school. Sounds to me more like apartheid and segregation is creeping into Toronto...I guess the minorities are trying to force upon us an education where kids stay with their "own kind". Tots and boys....the depravity! What next, all-girls schools? Or maybe private schools?

OMG - the implications are horrendous for our society! It will collapse into a swirling mass of dizzy confusion. All-girl schools? Then private schools? Then you know what will happen? The religions will jump on-board and have their own special, elitist "schools" and limit them to Sundays in church basements. Surely brimstone and ghashing of teeth will follow.

Run for the hills!

[Shwa]

Shwa and chater.rights - How do you two feel about the idea of an all-black school (or school board, or series of schools, or whatever)? Did you two support that idea when it was making headlines?

Good question. I don't really "feel" anything since it is not an emotive issue for me. As for 'supporting' well I that depends on measurable outcomes.

On the one hand, the name of this country comes from the old Iroquoian word for 'village' or 'place of homes' to be more exacting. So I can appreciate the integrative approach to education. That is, I believe in public schools as a concept and that any bias can be corrected within that system, but naturally - like any other bureaucracy - change is slow and contentious.

On the other hand, there is no doubt that there is a bias into the make-up and delivery of the modern public school curriculum - it is not racist and it is (mostly) not intentional. That bias could have a long term effect on the success of certain minorities within our system. And then lets not forget that we also pay for separate school boards of the RC variety.

Are publically funded all-black schools the answer? I don't know of any publically funded all-black schools. I think you might be confusing the concept of afro-centric to all-black yes? There is a fairly significant difference.

So are publically funded afro-centric schools the answer? I don't know. The current one in Toronto is a good experiment and a worthy experiment I think. If results can be achieved that give us information to be able to accelerate the correction of any bias within the public system, I can appreciate that. And a sound fix to the public school system ought to eliminate the need for any publically funded centric schools.

[g_bambino]

I also heard today on CBC Radio 1 that TDSB is also considering an all-boys school. Sounds to me more like apartheid and segregation is creeping into Toronto...

Charter (supposedly) has me on ignore right now, so this isn't really directed at him; but, I elsewhere made this point in regards to the difference between gender- and racially-segregated schools: There are, as far as we know, biological differences between boys and girls that may play a part in their patterns of learning; this provides the argument for same-sex schools with a sound foundation. However, nobody has, up to now, discovered (or at least publicly admitted) biological reasons for differences in scholastic performance amongst different racial groups. This leaves a vacuum of reasoning around the idea of dividing students along race lines, which is exactly why racially segregated schools were eventually abolished in the United States. The "Afri-centric" (euphemism for black-skinned-children-only) school's advocates should thus find themselves faced with the perilous question of how the DNA that affects one's epidermal pigmentation also affects the ability to learn. Lucky for them, political correctness has reduced the likelyhood that anyone will ask.

[c/e & +]

Edited November 26, 2009 by g_bambino

[Gabriel]

Good question. I don't really "feel" anything since it is not an emotive issue for me. As for 'supporting' well I that depends on measurable outcomes.

On the one hand, the name of this country comes from the old Iroquoian word for 'village' or 'place of homes' to be more exacting. So I can appreciate the integrative approach to education. That is, I believe in public schools as a concept and that any bias can be corrected within that system, but naturally - like any other bureaucracy - change is slow and contentious.

On the other hand, there is no doubt that there is a bias into the make-up and delivery of the modern public school curriculum - it is not racist and it is (mostly) not intentional. That bias could have a long term effect on the success of certain minorities within our system. And then lets not forget that we also pay for separate school boards of the RC variety.

Are publically funded all-black schools the answer? I don't know of any publically funded all-black schools. I think you might be confusing the concept of afro-centric to all-black yes? There is a fairly significant difference.

So are publically funded afro-centric schools the answer? I don't know. The current one in Toronto is a good experiment and a worthy experiment I think. If results can be achieved that give us information to be able to accelerate the correction of any bias within the public system, I can appreciate that. And a sound fix to the public school system ought to eliminate the need for any publically funded centric schools.

Explain to me what 'afro-centric' means, please. Then please explain how it is more beneficial for students to study there than at conventional schools. Should these schools be publically funded?

[Shwa]

First lets agree on terms. We don't have to agree on whether they are right or wrong, just that we are talking about the same thing:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afro-centric

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrocentrism (the intro paragraph should do)

So do we agree on terms?

[August1991]

Toronto District School Board has announced they are considering yet another "centric" school catering to the needs of a "small" minority at the expense of the "big" majority once again. And this minority doesn't even pay taxes, can barely read let along speak English and cost the taxpayers millions every year!!

So, according to your logic, why is there a "Toronto District" school? Why so "Toronto centric"?

Ontario should have "Ontario-centric" schools. But then, why stop at Ontario? We should have "Canada-centric" schools. Why stop there? The entire world should have a single school system for all children. (If every child in teh world studied the same curricula, then there would be peace in the world. No?)

----

Shwa, I happen to do my grocery shopping at Loblaw's. Would the world be a better place if you were forced to shop at Loblaw's too?

[Shwa]

So, according to your logic, why is there a "Toronto District" school? Why so "Toronto centric"?

Ontario should have "Ontario-centric" schools. But then, why stop at Ontario? We should have "Canada-centric" schools. Why stop there? The entire world should have a single school system for all children. (If every child in teh world studied the same curricula, then there would be peace in the world. No?)

----

Shwa, I happen to do my grocery shopping at Loblaw's. Would the world be a better place if you were forced to shop at Loblaw's too?

What post are you responding to? My original TiC post or the subsequent replies to Gabriel? If the former, you missed the boat, if the latter, try and be coherent.

[Oleg Bach]

Our schools functioned well - In the morning we would all stand and say a pledge - a promise to be good...I believe it was called a prayer..Now without that pledge being in place - it's a free for all....Perhaps we could have a secularist oath that is done during the first class - "I am hear to learn and be good all day long" Keep it simple. Smart blacks don't want to be part of Afro-centric schools - How can you realistically ..teach black history when most blacks will not acknowledge the fact that it was their elite in Africa that sold their sorry asses into slavery. Just like our elite double crossed us.. The truth is hard to bare - so off they go to weave a basket, and chant while playing a drum with a little hip hop to modernize the day. Blacks want a white man's edcuation - why not send them to Upper Canada College---where they could become insiders.?

[BrassTax]

Just out of curiosity, Is there a thread on the afro-centric schools? I couldn't seem to find one after a short search..any help?

[BrassTax]

Just out of curiosity, Is there a thread on the afro-centric schools? I couldn't seem to find one after a short search..any help?

Hah ok found it! (insert embarrassed smiley here)