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The case for black schools

MARGARET WENTE

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:48 PM EDT 16/01/08

Most people loathe the idea. Not me. ...Read the full article

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  1. Raymond Johnston from Toronto, Canada writes: It's clear that Dr. Fuller has significant expertise in this area, however what he has experienced in Milwaukee and what is being proposed Toronto, are two very different solutions. As he rightly points out, the need for high expectations and quality is likely the most important factor to deteremine the potential for success. Sadly, in Toronto, people who run education system will pay lip service to the idea and you can be sure that this experiment is doomed to fail from the start. After all, we have seen first hand the damage that can be done when a permissive & indulgent philosophy is sanctioned and promoted by the "leaders" in an education system.
  2. Christine Best from Toronto, Canada writes: My concern is with the "black" focus. Having a school (or schools) that focus on kids at risk and tailors programs to address their circumstances is a great idea. However, it isn't just black families facing these challenges. Even if we avoid talking about the dead-ended white kids, there are arguments for added attention for aboriginal people, refugee children, etc. etc.

    Something has to be done, but I'm not sure a black school is it.
  3. handy andy from burlington, Canada writes: As I see it the "case" you are arguing is not really for black schools, it is for "choice" and "quality" in education. I totally agree with that argument, and I have long felt that a voucher system, which allows parents choice of schools, resulting in competition for students, resulting in improved quality to attract them, is a system well worth trying. Where are the politicians with the guts to take on the entrenched interests in the schools system and make it happen?
  4. by polar from Canada writes: Black, white, yellow, poor, rich and everything else in between can learn anywhere, under any circumstances in public or private schools, country school houses even without supplies as long as their teachers are prejudice free and feel responsible for the future of their students. Schools are about caring teachers.
  5. Andy Bruce from Toronto, Canada writes: I may be missing something, but why wouldn't the money be better spent fixing the broken schools that these kids would "choose" not to attend. If everyone chooses the alternative school...what becomes of the students who can't get in due to space limitations? The best teachers will move to these new schools, leaving the already-bad schools in even worse shape! You solve the problem for a few, but make the situation even worse for the rest. I must be missing something...
  6. Paula Conning from Orangeville, Canada writes: Margaret Wente has not made the case for africentric schools- she's made the case for better schools in socioeconomically challenged areas. Not many people would argue with her on that. Great teachers, great supports, great environment, small classes, after school activities, parental involvement. If you develop a school like that the students will benefit whether it's africentric or not. But if you create a great school with great supports you should open enrolment to all students in the neighbourhood. Ontario already has the embarrassment of publicly funded Catholic schools that refuse admission to non-Catholics, and preferentially employ Catholic staff. We must improve our schools without creating more discrimination.
  7. Better to light a small candle than to sit and curse the darkness from Canada writes: It might be worth a try on a limited basis and if it works it cold be expanded. But why not use vouchers for all students, back white or yellow? I dislike the idea of segregating kids on any basis -colour ethnicity or religion.Apparentl;y most voters feel the way I do. What a terrible waste of human potential and national assets it is when young people drop out and go onto dead endjobs with no future or graduate to the unemployment lists. I have a feeling that the poor results of black students is a result of the poor support at home from blackparents who themselves often being immigrans have limited eduation or resources. It is a question of pulling things up by the bootstraps. It will require money; lots of money and intelligent application to the problem and a talented leadership.
    CYMRO
  8. Diane Schweik from EDMONTON, Canada writes: In the UK black girls do very well,it's the boys who fail.The reason is thought to be the often absent father who is unable to act as a role model for the male.I don't think the argument re poor education of parents is all that valid.Other immigrant groups don't seem to have the problem.

    Many of our native mothers have children from multiple partners.This,along with all the other disadvantages of growing up on a reserve,may contribute to the poor educational achievement of many native children.
  9. Shannon White from Waterloo, Canada writes: As usual the posters here along with Wente are arguing without a sense of statistically how bad the problem is. I guess I shouldn't blame posters -- there's no requirement for posters to back up their arguments -- but Wente used no data or references to back up her contention that black students are THE problem in Ontario schools. I've done some anecdotal search of the Fraser Institute's annual school perf review, and I noticed that in Ontario, rural schools tend to underperform urban. So, given that immigrants tend to flock to urban areas, my evidence points to immigrants doing BETTER than non-immigrants. Now, I admit my evidence is purely anecdotal, but it's light years better than Wente and the rest of you. Garbage-in-garbage-out.
  10. Willy Kyote from Canada writes: What's the difference between funding schools just for blacks, or just for natives, or just for muslims etc. ... ???

    Nothing - and Ontario has already dumped John Tory for that stupid idea

    The idea is to raise the bar - not lower the already low standards that pass for a decent education these days

    If kids can't pass their grades honestly - then maybe they shouldn't be in an academic school in the first place - they'd be much better off learning a trade
  11. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: Woah woah, hold on, didn't we already vote John Tory off the island for proposing such stupid ideas?
  12. N C from Canada writes: The key is school choice for parents. There is none in Ontario. Even for the rich, private schools are second rate. Because they only need to be a bit better than the public schools. The election debate on education was not about the real issue ie Ontario education is a virtual monopoly. Lack of choice and quality standards in Ontario's education monopoly hurts the children it is supposed to serve. School choice brings accountability and transparency to education where parents can vote by choosing the best schools for their children.

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