Lack of devices, connectivity and support for parents and students is increasingly alarming

BY DAVE RANKIN

The Urban Alliance on Race Relations recently held an online forum to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the education of black students.

With 45 years of addressing challenges that have affected the residents within the GTA, this was a great place to start for this organization that has continually invested in the development of the community through a number of avenues. The online forum was spearheaded by UARR President, Nigel Barriffe and his panelists: Nana Yanful (Staff Lawyer, Black Legal Action Centre), Alana Lowe, (Coordinator, Black Youth Collaborative), and Warren Salmon, (President, Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators). They all took the time to lend their expertise in their area and to express some of their concerns with the present educational situation.

Alana Lowe was the first of the panelists to speak. She began by highlighting some of the items brought to her attention through: collaborative efforts, 20-some youth organizations, and her work within the Toronto District School Board. One of the first things that stuck out was the fact that panic immediately set in as soon as schools closed. There were a number of students who were worried that they won’t be able to finish the school year and how would this affect their future.

Another major item mentioned was the concern of students who are in crisis and no longer have the face-to-face support they have received while they were in school. Hearing stories of students who have had flashbacks of traumatic experiences, being stifled from having to stay indoors with little to no human connection, to even witnessing their parents’ frustrations of having to be on the frontlines and encountering racism within the workforce. It’s a tall order for this generation of students who now have to handle more than just finishing their math homework on time.

Nana Yanful, a lawyer from the Black Legal Action Centre spoke next on some of the issues that have been brought to her attention. She mentioned that most of the calls that were fielded were around housing and education. In the realm of education, Nana discussed that there are many students who are still missing out on the resources from their schools. Some of those families do not have a computer or adequate internet connection, and other families who have multiple children in the home require more than one learning device. She also spoke at length on her concern for students in shelters, and any school suspensions prior to COVID-19.

President of the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators, Warren Salmon spoke last. He also addressed some of the concerns around technology and students not having enough schoolwork to complete. Warren continued to state that his organization was working on behalf of some the parents to help facilitate a reliable bridge between families and teachers.

The concept of e-learning was a major factor during the stalemate between teachers and the Ontario government. When speaking to some of my older students, they were very apprehensive around this concept as well and rightfully so. Now that teachers and students have been thrown into this situation, the loopholes discovered from the lack of devices/connectivity and support for parents/students is increasingly alarming. However, through every challenge, there is a solution. Discussions like the one the Urban Alliance of Race Relation has held this past week, is a step in the right direction in creating solutions our community can stand behind.