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Youth Development

We Rise Together

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BY KATHY MCDONALD 

We Rise Together: The Peel District School Board’s Action Plan to Support Black Students was officially approved on October 27th 2016. The document was produced by the Peel District School Board and is by all accounts a bold and progressive document. The action plan has four key goals. They are: to integrate the experiences of Black Canadians into the curriculum, deliver bias-free and anti-racism professional development, engage with the community and inspire Black students leadership and engagement. It has empowered Black teachers, in fact all employees to name the problem. It has given voice to Black students. Most importantly, this document has brought forward a concrete plan to remedy the Black student experience in the PDSB. This document does not mean that the quest for equity and inclusion for the Black and Caribbean community in the PDSB is over. Our journey is just beginning.

The Board has made a commitment to addressing the myriad of factors in the education system that are negatively impacting our Black students. The verdict is in and it is loud and clear. Black males stated how disenfranchised and disillusioned they are with the state of the education system. The feelings of lack of respect, low expectations and the foregone conclusion that Black males cannot excel in university was brought to the forefront. It would be remiss if I did not state that the majority of PDSB employees are dedicated professionals. However, it is those bad apples that are spoiling the bunch that we need to eradicate because too many of our youth are suffering needlessly at the hands of these few.

Believe me when I say I understand that the Black and Caribbean community is researched, surveyed, focused grouped and analyzed out. However, this is the first step in a long journey. Timelines will be given and will be met. Even though the focus groups were high school male students whose documented experiences and feelings are being used to help guide solutions for a kindergarten to grade twelve coed school system and that the parent’s voice or staff’s voice were not directly included we must forge ahead. The document contains specific aims, activities, short-term and long-term outcomes. This is a living document and it will be constantly tweaked and improved as the process unfolds. The community will be consulted as the board seeks to remedy the Black youth experience in the educational system. In the end the Black youth experience will improve.

Many members of the Black and Caribbean community did not respond with the enthusiasm that I expected. There is a sense of “well we knew this twenty years ago, make that forty years ago”. However, to the cynics out there I declare that today is the first day of the future. We need to move forward with unbridled passion to make a real and significant change that will positively impact our children for generations to come. Things will not change overnight but by having the leaderships of the PDSB take ownership for the lack of equity and inclusion of the Black and Caribbean community is the beginning of the end. The end of systemic biases, the end of low expectations, the end of stereotyping as being unacceptable in theory but not in reality. Will this happen overnight? NO. It is going to take years to reverse decades of systemic racial discrimination, years of zero to low expectations and years of demoralizing behaviors to change. “Nuh ting good cum easy” IT WILL TAKE TIME. A Black man in 2008 was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. This historical achievement was possible because decades before a man dared to dream, a woman took a stand on a bus and people marched, rioted and died for basic civil rights.

The community needs to be vigilant and stay engaged and actively monitor the process, the timelines and hold us as a board accountable. Parents need to get engaged, learn how to advocate for your children and make their education priority number one. I always say that if the government closed all barber shops and hairdressing parlors or even dared to cancel Caribana, the Black and the Caribbean community would protest in record numbers. We need this mind set when it comes to our children’s education. Students, I would encourage you to continue to work hard and strive to be the best that you can be. Let no one derail your dreams. Be bold and confident. Seek and find a mentor, an adult or a teacher that can guide you through your educational journey. If you are unable to do so contact your local Trustee and ask for guidance and direction so may you truly rise above all obstacles as you reach your destination. Walk Good, Belle Marché.

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Simone Jennifer Smith

    May 13, 2017 at 11:50 am

    Write Sister. I am very proud of you

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Youth Development

Understanding the multiple layers involved in navigating education spaces Parents of Black Children launch Navigating the Education System

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BY PAUL JUNOR

The work of the advocacy group Parents of Black Children (PoBC) has made a significant and revolutionary difference by bringing issues to the forefront that help Black families at all levels.

For over two years now, it has organized events, workshops and initiatives that have provided important information to the Black community to bring empowerment, knowledge and deep understanding of the multiple layers of the complex dynamics involved in navigating education spaces.

There are five core principles that underlie PoBC understanding of racism:

  1. Racialization
  2. Racism is about power
  3. Critical racial theory
  4. Our stories matter
  5. Racism is founded on White supremacy

On Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021, they launched the document Navigating the Education System,” which was a very empowering, enriching and inspiring tool for diverse Black families. Kearie Daniels, one of the cofounders of PoBC and author of the document, moderated the launch. Furthermore, Claudette Rutherford, one of the cofounders of PoBC and author gave an extensive presentation of the details of the document, sharing useful insights, practical knowledge and interesting information.

PoBC shared a pdf document subsequent to the launch, which provided additional details in a fifty-three-page package. It contained relevant, contextual and vital resources. PoBC’s Advocacy Team supported the document, which includes Charline Grant and Xavier McLaughin.

In the introduction to the document the mission of PoBC is to “Provide support to parents of Black children across Canada and the United States. We advocate and work towards change and concrete action in our education system and adjacent systems such child welfare and the justice system.”

The launch of this vital document is a culmination of all the advocacy and activist work that PoBC has been extensively involved in. It serves to remind members of the Black community that there are resources, tools and supports available to ensure that Black children are able to thrive academically, excel mentally and flourish intellectually in spaces that may not be welcoming to their presence.

The document states that the navigate guide is “Geared towards families in Ontario, but the information can be applied to any jurisdiction where there are Black children and families.”

The document “Table of Contents” is useful and helpful. There is vital information on:

  • School board terms you need to know
  • Education organization you need to know in Ontario
  • Black families and the Child Welfare System
  • Black families and the education system
  • Black students and Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
  • Black students in High School.
  • Developmental delays in learning exceptionalities
  • Supporting students with learning exceptionalities
  • Selecting a school system
  • System abuse

PoBC presented a webinar on “System Abuse”. The document states,

“The system is not neutral. These systems were designed as part of a colonial framework that must be dismantled.” Furthermore, the document “Serves as a means to demystify the pitfalls within the education system and light a path towards a decolonized education system.”

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Youth Development

Toronto prepares families for COVID-19 vaccination of children

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Photo by Charles Deluvio Library on Unsplash

BY PAUL JUNOR

There have been concerns, fears and anxieties as parents, caregivers and guardians anticipate the possibility of having their children under twelve vaccinated.

The Boston Globe reported on Friday, October 29th, 2021, that the FDA approved the administration of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children between the ages of five to eleven. These children will receive one-third of the dose administered to teens and adults.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention met on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021, in order to finalize details with respect to which children should be vaccinated first. In anticipation of these developments, Team Toronto has initiated a series of outreach and education sessions, as well as town halls in order to inform the Toronto community.

Parents of children between the ages of five to eleven who attend public schools will be receiving an email and an invitation to respond to a survey to “Support vaccine planning.”  This invitation will also be extended to parents whose children attend private independent schools as well. The survey will be administered by Toronto Public Health (TPH) and the City of Toronto VaxTO in order to “Better understand parents’ intent to vaccinate their children, how they would prefer to have their children receive their COVID-19 vaccine, and to obtain critical information on socio-demographic factors such as race and income.”

John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, is optimistic and positive about this development. He states in the press release, “While our work to get 90% of eligible residents vaccinated is continuing, we are also readying for when the vaccine will be available to protect kids five to eleven. We want to hear from parents, so we made sure we designed a vaccination program that works for kids and their families. This is just one more example of the outreach we are doing to prepare for this effort. This work is so important and will help us get kids vaccinated so they have the best protection against COVID-19 and so our schools can be as safe and as open as possible.”

Councillor Joe Cressy, Chair of Toronto’s Board of Health who has been at the forefront of advocating for the vaccination of margnizalied and at-risk communities is supportive of this campaign. He states, “At every stage of our immunization campaign, connecting with people on the ground has been critical to our success. Now, as we prepare for the rollout of vaccines to children aged five to eleven, we’re committed to engaging directly with parents, families, and community leaders to have active conversations about vaccinations for kids.”

In addition, Dr Eileen De Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health is a strong proponent of this campaign. She states,” When vaccines are approved for use and when we have supply we will ensure that we bring every resource to bear on this critical component of the vaccination campaign.”

The survey will be available as of Sunday, November 7th, 2021. It consists of fifteen questions that will be available online at s.tphsurvey.chkmkt.com in multiple languages. Parents and guardians will receive them from their children’s public school boards. In addition, there will be town halls for specified multilingual communities as well as neighbourhood-based telephone halls to ensure that the public has access to timely, necessary and relevant information for informed decision-making.

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Youth Development

Act as if what you do makes a difference. IT DOES

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BY SABRINA S. – 12 YEARS OLD

The school year is coming to an end, I’m sure that this year was hectic for everyone. Last year, we had a pandemic strike in the middle of the year and the world was sent into lockdown.

We didn’t get to go to school for the rest of the year.

Many students got to choose if they wanted to do school in-person or online, I chose online since I didn’t feel safe.

First day of school was very weird, most people don’t turn their cameras on, don’t even get me started on the wifi issues. I would lag out of the google meet many times and miss most of the instructions on the assignment. That is when friends come in handy, though I don’t get to see my friends that often, we still connect with some online games and phone calls through snap chat.

I don’t know where the time went, it just flew by. Last month was September and suddenly, I feel like we skipped eight months. I only have a week of school left! Because it is the last week of school, I have a lot of homework and final assignments to do but I know I’ll get through them and finish the school year.

I haven’t had time to go outside as well, I’ve been too busy with my assignments.

If my school year was this hectic, imagine the teacher’s year. I’m very grateful for everything my teachers have done for me and my classmates this year, they definitely deserve the three-month summer break. I’m sure my teachers doubted teaching online, but everything went okay and I learned lots.

“No matter how hard it is, or how hard it gets. I’m going to make it!”

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