This Magazine - The Case for All-Black Schools

The feature article in the January-February 2009 issue of This Magazine is an argument for the establishment of all-black schools in Toronto. I'm glad people are writing about this because, as the article points out, the dropout rate for black youth in Toronto is around forty percent and the Toronto District School Board has already agreed that a black-focused school will open at Sheppard Public School in September 2009 to try and address this problem.

This is clearly an important issue. But the article is so poorly written and argued that it barely contributes anything to the discussion. It includes quotes from people opposed to black focused schools crying "self-segregation!" and people in favour repeating "forty percent dropout rate!" Then the author wraps up by suggesting that we get over our fear of racial segregation because it hurts the children.

What the article never does, despite the claim made on the cover of the magazine, is make an actual argument for black-focused schools. If it was making an argument for black-focused schools it would start by explaining the problem.

Apparently there is a forty percent dropout rate among black youth in Toronto. What does that mean? When we say "black" do we mean "North African" or "South African" or "Caribbean" or "students recently immigrated from Africa" or "second generation immigrants"? When we say "youth" do we mean men and women are dropping out in equal measure? What is the difference between those who graduate and those who don't? Does economic class or parental profession play a role? Does the neighbourhood have an impact? Are the kids all from a handful of schools? Are there any other possible causal links we might be able to tease out? Could we maybe interview some of the kids who dropped out and some of the kids who didn't to find out what they think about why they stayed or left?!

Having examined the problem, the article would then explain what black-focused schools are and why they would likely solve the dropout problem (I assume) by teaching black kids about their culture and history, giving them a sense of belonging and community, and providing them with black role models and subject matter. The writer would claim that these were all the things that they desperately wanted but couldn't find in the regular school system that failed them.

But the author doesn't do any of these things. Instead, he notes that there is a forty percent dropout rate, interviews people who say that we need black-focused schools to solve this problem and then concludes by agreeing with them.

What is a black-focused school, you ask?

The idea is not as lofty as it may sound, though. It's more an attempt to refocus and refine the existing curriculum with a specific student body in mind. In approach, that means restructuring the classroom so that students are given opportunities to take leadership roles at every stage of the learning process. In content, it means students will not only study European history and the creation of European identities, but also African history and the creation of African identities. It's not as simple as inserting a few black faces into the textbook, but the deliberate inclusion of African history and people is a starting point.

That is an interesting approach. But shouldn't you figure out why "black youth" are dropping out before building an entirely new school curriculum and funding a new school to ensure that they stay in school?

This article depresses me. Was this the level of discussion when the issue was debated by Toronto District School Board trustees?