Offer black youth safe place to grow

Re Black- only school is not the answer Editorial, Sept. 15.

I must challenge your editorial suggestion that “ at- risk” black students would feel alienated from the mainstream at an Afroschooling facility. Rather, I feel they would be relieved to be acknowledged as worth our effort; that their success in life has value to our society. Unacceptable numbers of African- Canadian young people already feel alienated from mainstream society, hence the appalling academic statistics and draw to gang membership. Gang membership discourages independent thinking and this is what we can offer young people; a safe place to grow into independent thinkers. We have been shown, as evidenced by the Toronto District School Board’s Native Learning Centre, that immersing young people in a culturally relevant learning environment which reinforces their roots and community values is a valid approach. It allows students to feel safe to explore who they are as individuals.

Concurrently, we must continue to collect data that delves into systemic and societal issues that cause the marginalization of students who become “atrisk.” Changes can be made and as improvements are achieved, special schools for these young people may no longer be required, or we may discover that we have created a jewel in our education system and the knowledge from that community of learners can be shared throughout the city . We must not be frightened off by claims that to create an Afrocentric learning facility is racism; rather, our community is choosing to face a desperately challenging issue by honouring the passionate requests of this community. We must not allow obstacles to assail our young people any further. It is imperative that we achieve success. Cathy Hunt, Toronto