What do our students need? ONABSE letter to Minister brings awareness of issues

BY PAUL JUNOR

On April 27^th, 2020 an important letter was sent to the Minister of Education, Stephen Leece by the Ontario Alliance of Black Educators (ONABSE). The purpose of the letter was to respond to the Ministry of Education’s review of the Peel District School Board (PDSB), which the board received on March 13^th, and the subsequent ministerial recommendations, which it accepted on April 15^th.

The letter that was sent to the Minister focused on specific aspects of the Ministry review with respect to: systematic discrimination specifically anti-black racism, human resource practices dysfunctional governance and leadership at the board. These are part of its mission.

ONABSE is an umbrella organization that works with other community-based organizations whose mission is to, “Enhance and facilitate the education, health, safety and welfare of African-Canadians. We aim to combat structural racism in all  forms with respect to black people.”(www.onabse.org).” It hosts an annual educational conference, and in February 2015, it contracted with Turner Consulting Group Inc. to perform a research analysis that focuses on the experiences of African-Canadian teachers in Ontario. The purpose of this organization  was to “Give voice to the experiences and perspectives of black educators, the challenges they face, and identify how best ONABSE can continue to work to influence public policy concerning the education of African-Canadian people.”

 There were several policy implications that came out of this report which include;  the need for workplace discrimination and harassment prevention programs, race equity, on-going training and support for all teachers, support networks, changing staffing models, inclusive African-centric curriculum and support for black parental involvement in the education system.( 2015 ONABSE Report).

Many of the Ministry’s review of the PDSB were in alignment with the goals of ONABSE such as its, “Work to eliminate and to rectify the effects of racism, harassment and sexism in education and researches and promulgate positions on key educational issues, which affect all children and students of African descent and it related to public policies.” Anti-racism work is key to the achievement of its overall mandate.

ONABSE has made it known in its letter that it is hopeful that a meeting can be arranged with the Ministry of Education, the Education Equity Secretariat and other stakeholders to discuss four specific areas that it itemized  from the report, such as:

1. ONABSE and community stakeholder’s engagement with the Ministry and PDSB with respect to the assessment and monitoring of the recommendations and directions that were stated in the report.
2. The exploration of potential solutions that may be implemented within the province and Ministry of Education to address and discontinue unacceptable pattern of anti-black racism and inequities that blacks are experiencing and have historically experienced.

Some solutions could be

• Establish a permanent branch, department or other entity within the Ministry that deals with issues affecting black staff, students, and parents of children of African descent
• Mandatory and on-going culturally responsive pedagogy and Afrocentric training for prospective, new and existing K-12 educators
• Increasing transparent, inclusive and equitable hiring and promotion practices
• The creation and implementation of an anti-racism policy
• An explanatory look at existing Afrocentric schools and programmes in the province of Ontario and the potential benefit for all students
• Clarification of the review timelines given the COVID-19 situation, as well as other aspects of the report
• Concerns about the mental health and well-being of our black students, staff, parents and allies in our communities, alongside the hurt and harm experienced as a result of anti-black racism expressed in the review and compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper interviewed Warren Salmon, president of ONABSE on Tuesday, May 5^th and we asked him if he had received any response from the Minister of Education. He told us that he has not received a response as yet, but he did receive a call from Patrick Case, Deputy Minister of Education.

They discussed the contents of the letter and they anticipate a meeting with the Minister in the future. Warren informed us that he was able to have a virtual meeting with other members from the black community, notably with Jamil Jivani, the first ever Advocate for Community Opportunities and a special advisor to the premier. Warren mentioned that there was an engaging and informative discussions with Jivani and he was receptive to many of the items in the letter especially the creation and implementation of an anti-black racism policy. Jivani promised to take these concerns to Minister and arranged a future meeting.

In further discussions with Warren he assured that even though we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a small window of opportunity left to ensure that these recommendations are implemented. He is convinced that now is the time to put further pressure on the board to do the right thing. The work of past activists, trustees, community workers, teachers and allies cannot afford to be in vain.