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More than a third say they're treated worst, report says
Black high school students feel they are more likely to be discriminated against in class than any other racial or cultural group, according to a University of Toronto study.
More than one-third of black students surveyed believed teachers treated them worse than other groups, compared to 16 per cent of South Asians and six per cent of white students. "These perceptions, regardless of how and why they developed, are very important and are a real problem with respect to the educational system," said criminologist Scot Wortley. "When students believe they are unfairly treated in school, it may lead to a more negative attitude towards education, the pursuit of conventional occupations and Canadian society in general."Wortley and Martin Ruck, a professor from the City University of New York, surveyed more than 1,800 Grade 10 and 12 students from 19 Toronto high schools. More than half of the black students felt that school authorities were more likely to call the police on their racial group, followed by 18 per cent of South Asians, 8 per cent of Asians and 3.5 per cent of white students.The results of the survey come as no surprise to Jquan Banton, 19. The Grade 12 student at Maplewood High School recalled a time when both him and a white student wore hats in the halls."(The teachers) left the white girl and they came after me. I was suspended," he said. "They consider me a gangster."Keren Brathwaite, chair of the Organization of Parents of Black Children, said discrimination by school authorities is well documented."We get calls from parents who state how frequently their children are subjected to suspensions," she said.Treatment of has worsened since Ontario passed the Safe Schools Act, which calls for mandatory expulsion of students for some infractions, said Eddie Zuniga, chair of the Parent Community Network.Both Brathwaite and Zuniga said schools need more anti-racism programs and teacher education.Copyright ©2002
Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved.
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