The Grade 9 Divide … Systemic Racism?

July 7, 2020 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

An Ontario Education Disease

Premier Doug Ford has come out swinging as he has outlawed the grade “9 Divide”, or what some call streaming.

“It is unfair for a child at grade 9 to be asked to make such an important decision that can affect them for life” said Premier Doug Ford, inter alia.

What is the Grade 9 Divide

At kindergarten many students even at that age were streamed. On a path to later be a normal achiever or a super achiever.

At high school in grade 9, you were so streamed also on a path to University, College or to the trades. This subtly is a form of profiling. Unfortunately, it mainly affected dark skinned or black students.

Suspensions

Dark skinned or minority students were more likely to be suspended from school for disciplinary reasons. That too is to be outlawed.

BLM

We are grateful to the Black Lives Matter Movement for this and other racist practices to hit the spotlight. Since the death of George Floyd and the arrest and dismissal of his murderers then the International street demonstrations a lot has changed. Police services are being defunded and statues are being toppled.

Long live BLM may you grow from strength to strength.

Commentary

We were not aware that racism was so entrenched in the Canadian society.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior National & International Correspondent for Vision Newspaper