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The education system in Canada. A thread.
This is about Ontario but don't think your school board is any different.
My son arrived from overseas at age 5. He had been in private school for 2+ years, having learned multiplication and division.
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This is about Ontario but don't think your school board is any different.
My son arrived from overseas at age 5. He had been in private school for 2+ years, having learned multiplication and division.
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He spoke 4 languages, including French and English. He also had a foreign way of pronouncing words, which is normal for an immigrant.
I registered him for school 9 mo prior to his arrival. When he landed in Canada, I got him vaccinated immed so he could start school immed.
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I registered him for school 9 mo prior to his arrival. When he landed in Canada, I got him vaccinated immed so he could start school immed.
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Arriving at school early one morning to get the ball rolling, the secretary gave me the 3rd degree.
Are u registered online? Yes.
Do u have proof of residence? Yes.
Do u have a lease signed in ink? No. I'm a home owner. (Yes,Blk ppl can own homes in this neighbourhood
).
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Are u registered online? Yes.
Do u have proof of residence? Yes.
Do u have a lease signed in ink? No. I'm a home owner. (Yes,Blk ppl can own homes in this neighbourhood
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Did u go thru the immigration eval? No. Not needed. (There is a 2 mo wait for some school board evaluator to check my kids' language skills. He is 5. WTF are u evaluating? Who is gonna watch him for 2 mo while he waits it out? Do u think I have 2 mo off work for this b.s.?)
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The secretary tried every which way to turn us away. Unfortunately for her, I came w/receipts. Finally, she whimpers "I guess u're organized".
B*tch, my son just came off the boat. I didn't.
Then she says the principal is too busy to meet us. Don't call us, we'll call u.
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B*tch, my son just came off the boat. I didn't.
Then she says the principal is too busy to meet us. Don't call us, we'll call u.
5/30
I'm already anxious because I know how canadian schools can crush Black boys. Is this an omen?
As we leave, guess who's standing there doing nothing?
The principal.
He saw a Blk family and rushed to enquire what we were doing there.
"Too busy", my a$$.
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As we leave, guess who's standing there doing nothing?
The principal.
He saw a Blk family and rushed to enquire what we were doing there.
"Too busy", my a$$.
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My son was only in class for a few weeks b4 covid shut down in-person schools.
An unfortunate turn of events. Especially since schools are the primary vector for acculturation.
Fast fwd to September. New classmates. New teacher. In-person learning. New friends. Yay.
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An unfortunate turn of events. Especially since schools are the primary vector for acculturation.
Fast fwd to September. New classmates. New teacher. In-person learning. New friends. Yay.
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My kid loooooves school. He is eager to go.
Every day, we walk home from daycare and quiz him on what happened, what he learned, did he make a new friend, etc.
We got a camera still of his classroom. My kid is the only Black child. He was assigned seating in the back row.
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Every day, we walk home from daycare and quiz him on what happened, what he learned, did he make a new friend, etc.
We got a camera still of his classroom. My kid is the only Black child. He was assigned seating in the back row.
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I expressed concern to the teacher and principal. They aren't moved to act.
Six weeks into the school year, I get a call from the school. My kid spit on another kid. A white girl. Twice. He also displayed aggressive behaviour.
Ok. This is not his normal behaviour.
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Six weeks into the school year, I get a call from the school. My kid spit on another kid. A white girl. Twice. He also displayed aggressive behaviour.
Ok. This is not his normal behaviour.
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Let me investigate.
It took an hour for us to tease the whole story. My son explained how he was kicked by a classmate in the hallway every other day.
Why didn't you say something?
We are not allowed to talk when we're in the hallway. But it (the kicks) hurt alot.
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It took an hour for us to tease the whole story. My son explained how he was kicked by a classmate in the hallway every other day.
Why didn't you say something?
We are not allowed to talk when we're in the hallway. But it (the kicks) hurt alot.
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Then I learned the white girl wanted to be first in line, so she pushed, kicked her way in. She did that almost every day. He reluctantly ceded his spot. Except today he had enough.
That's the white girl he spit on. Twice.
Wait. It gets better.
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That's the white girl he spit on. Twice.
Wait. It gets better.
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My son was taunted, teased & assaulted by older kids at recess. On the daily. They scream some words at him that he didn't understand.
I bet it's the n-word. I don't have the heart to explain what it is.
Today,an older white girl dared 2 older white boys to push him.
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I bet it's the n-word. I don't have the heart to explain what it is.
Today,an older white girl dared 2 older white boys to push him.
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The boys obliged. My kid fought back. The recess supervisor intervened, punished everyone except the instigating white girl. She managed to get away.
My kid was furious at being punished for standing up to bullies.
He let the supervisor know it. He doesn't mince words.
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My kid was furious at being punished for standing up to bullies.
He let the supervisor know it. He doesn't mince words.
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When recess ended, he went to the front of the line, and the other white girl tried to push him out of line (as usual). This time he reacted.
Keep in mind, a new-to-canada child was bullied and kicked for wks and no adult said or did anything abt it. They were blind 2 his abuse.
Keep in mind, a new-to-canada child was bullied and kicked for wks and no adult said or did anything abt it. They were blind 2 his abuse.
The moment the Black kid reacted, he was punished and his parents called in.
I explained the whole story to the principal without editorial comment.
I want to believe they addressed the bullying head on. My kid hasn't reported being kicked or harassed ever since.
But...
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I explained the whole story to the principal without editorial comment.
I want to believe they addressed the bullying head on. My kid hasn't reported being kicked or harassed ever since.
But...
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I get a call from the school board's immigration services bureau. They wanna talk.
Fine.
At the conference call, we are told that newly arrived immigrant children need some care to address behaviour issues. They are changing cultures and that requires some assistance.
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Fine.
At the conference call, we are told that newly arrived immigrant children need some care to address behaviour issues. They are changing cultures and that requires some assistance.
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WTF?
Your schools had my child in its care for weeks, stood by while he was called the n-word, kicked, bullied. Did nothing to stop it. Did not punish the culprits.
And now you think the bullying victim is the one who needs behaviour help?!?!?
WTF?
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Your schools had my child in its care for weeks, stood by while he was called the n-word, kicked, bullied. Did nothing to stop it. Did not punish the culprits.
And now you think the bullying victim is the one who needs behaviour help?!?!?
WTF?
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You saw my kid's Obama-sounding name and assumed his parents just got off the boat, too?
Is this how school boards treat immigrant Blk kids? Like a problem that needs to be solved?
Did u call the parents of any of the offending kids to discuss behaviour?
Dead silence.
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Is this how school boards treat immigrant Blk kids? Like a problem that needs to be solved?
Did u call the parents of any of the offending kids to discuss behaviour?
Dead silence.
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Did you address the fact he was called a n*gger by older kids?
Dead silence. Then the schpeil about "racism has no place in schools". <eye roll> Then he goes: "I have been working for this school board for 5+ years. I have never seen any racism".
Buddy. I was in this
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Dead silence. Then the schpeil about "racism has no place in schools". <eye roll> Then he goes: "I have been working for this school board for 5+ years. I have never seen any racism".
Buddy. I was in this
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...damn school board for 15 yrs. I saw racism from teachers, principals. I have receipts. Don't tell me what u've seen. I've lived it. And it looks like the school board has barely evolved in 30 yrs.
He starts stuttering. I guess he brought a knife to a gun fight. I came to play
He starts stuttering. I guess he brought a knife to a gun fight. I came to play
Am I supposed to trust all the adults -- teachers, principal, supervisors -- who ignored or were indifferent to the abuse my son experienced?
Is this how you treat Black kids?
I noticed how quickly supervisors reacted to perceived white pain. Why weren't they there 4 my kid?
Is this how you treat Black kids?
I noticed how quickly supervisors reacted to perceived white pain. Why weren't they there 4 my kid?
Do not trust schools. Do not trust them to have your Black child's best interest at heart.
I have the means to defend myself.
What about immigrants? Are they led astray by crooked school boards hell bent to gaslighting their kids? Who's lookin' out for FOBs??? #onted
I have the means to defend myself.
What about immigrants? Are they led astray by crooked school boards hell bent to gaslighting their kids? Who's lookin' out for FOBs??? #onted
