This was the dumbest idea the TDSB has ever came up with. (ok, ok, there are others but stay with me here…) I’m not saying that the trustees are stupid, it’s just I believe that they haven’t thought this through and they seem to have not realize the consequences that may occur from this decision.This issue, in my opinion, is somewhat related to an issue that had arisen during the 2007 Ontario general election: the question was “Should we or should we not provide public funding for faith based schools?”. Obviously the issue are different in the sense that the religious schools are already there and they are private. However, the underlying and overall consequences, and the possible solutions are very similar.What the TDSB is doing is they are essentially separating one group from the vast majority of people in Toronto.This brings up the question “what are the possible consequences of this decision made by the TDSB?“. Well I believe this might happen:

• This will create two “classes” of students in Toronto, in other words, segregation
• Other groups will begin to demand to have their own publicly funded school

This is one thing that, as Torontonians and Canadians, we should be ashamed of. The establishment of this school is against all we believe in:

• Multiculturalism
• Diversity

I understand that the African-Caribbean Canadian community is worried about the large number of their youth dropping out of school, but this is not the answer to the problem.The best solution is for the Government of Ontario to reform the system, put more resources into the public education system, revise the curriculum to include more courses and lessons on different languages, cultures and faiths, provide more money for more qualified teachers and teaching assistants, and provide more after school programs across this city and the province.I hope that the trustees and TDSB board reconsider their position and vote against establishing this school because a single culture focused school is not the way to go.