|
Minorities want race stats only when it benifits them
Keeping statistics based on race is a touchy subject when it comes to police. But when it comes to schools, many parents seem all for it.
The reason? They're worried children of ethnic minorities are being singled out for punishment under the province's Safe Schools Act.
The law was originally passed by the Tories to crack down on disciplinary problems in the province's schools. Under the rules, anything from swearing to fighting could lead to a suspension or even an expulsion.
But some parents believe educational authorities are brandishing those punishments with a double-edged sword.
The Toronto District School Board's Safe and Compassionate Schools Task Force spent 10 weeks hearing from concerned moms and dads about the issue, and has finished a report recommending the legislation be repealed, and that the number of penalties doled out be measured by which races seem to be bearing the brunt of them.
Currently, the official documents record only whether the offender is a boy or a girl.
It also wants the phrase "zero tolerance", a reference to how much leeway students get for their behaviour, completely eliminated.
Parents representing blacks, aboriginals and the Tamil community were among the most concerned that their kids were being singled out for punishment. They believe keeping the racial statistics will prove they were right.
May 11, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|