It’s not about colour, ethnicity

Re: Ontario to ditch highschool streaming, July 7.

Once again, those experts who have only set foot in an Ontario classroom as students, possibly decades ago, have pronounced streaming as a system that perpetuates racism and inequality.

As an educator with more than 30 years of experience throughout Ontario in all levels of streaming, I am insulted on behalf of myself and my dedicated colleagues. Contrary to what this article suggests, teachers do not judge their students by ethnic background, skin colour, or economic standing. We recognize, instead, that some have less ability in certain areas, and some, less interest in learning.

Yes, that’s right, some children struggle more with learning than others. The applied level was created to make it possible for more students to be successful in smaller classes with a more hands-on, practical, real-world approach. These students are not book learners, as those in the academic stream must be; they are doers.

Do we not need more doers with high school diplomas in society today?

The real issues with streaming involve the French immersion and gifted divisions, of which there was no mention in the announcement.

Both of those usually siphon the more privileged, academically and socially, from the regular stream, once again leaving the average with fewer resources.

I shudder to imagine how teachers will now cope, not only with the current pandemic, but a total curriculum overhaul.

Please, for once, let those who actually deal with our young on a daily basis, weigh in on these misguided, overtly political, policies.

Nora Stirajs, Ottawa