The Great Divide

A large debate in heating up within the Afro-Caribbean community in Toronto; Should there be segregated schools for black youth?

Some believe this is a throwback to the 60s when schools were segregated, the only difference was back then, it was to 'protect' the white kids from the black kids. This time around, it would be to enhance the black youth's educational values and to diminish the drop out rates by black students.

In my opinion, segregated schools are not the answer to this problem. The kids need role models and people they look up to who aren't athletes or hip hop stars. Who are the people teaching these kids about themselves or their community? The teachers.

How well informed are these teachers about the community these kids are growing up in? Do they really know what it feels like to be a male black youth in Toronto? Do these kids have someone to look over them, or for someone to guide or mentor them?

My suggestion is an Afro-Caribbean-Canadian course curriculum in communities where the population is the largest. Same for schools located in communities where there is a large population of Asian-Canadians, etc etc. I feel that these kids should be made aware of the contributions that people, who look just like them, have made to better the world they live in, the country they live in ... the city they live in.