Toronto approves Africentric alternative school
To address the underachievement of Black students, the Toronto District School
Board has approved the creation of a K-5 alternative Africentric school, reports
Education Canada. The curriculum will integrate the histories, cultures and
contributions of people of African descent and the school will be housed in an
unused wing of an existing K-6 elementary public school.
After lengthy debate in the community and despite concerns that it was a
return to segregated schools, the Board narrowly approved of the proposal. The
alternative school was proposed by two parents. Parents supporting the Black
focus school claimed that the public school did not offer their children a
culturally meaningful curriculum, role models who can support identity
formation, high academic expectations or learning environments in which they can
achieve them.
As for segregation, supporters say de facto school segregation based on
income already exists. About 200 pupils are expected to enroll. Current plans
call for a 3-year pilot program to develop a model for integrating the
histories, cultures and contributions of people of African descent into the
curriculum in three other elementary schools and for a staff development,
research and innovation centre for improving school achievement of marginalized
and vulnerable groups.
Debating Values: Race, Class and Academic Achievement, Education Canada, Fall
2008, pp. 16-20.
Other research briefs
Educational aspirations of
Mexican-American students
ELLs benefit as much as EFLs from
struggling reader interventions
Early-warning data systems identify potential dropouts
Achievement of students with
disabilities in inclusive classrooms
Full-day kindergarten benefits may
be short-lived because of differences in populations
Middle school counselors need
more training in substance abuse
| 
