This morning’s Globe and Mail again notes issues with boys’ education and learning.  This is not something new on the horizon but has been a growing issue for some time as we have seen a decline in boys going to post secondary school and completing secondary school qualifications.    Something needs to be done and some things are already being done.
 
In the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) there have been various initiatives.  As we know over 40% of black male youth and 30% of Spanish and Portuguese youth drop out; that is the data.  This emphasizes the issue and demands action.
 
And there has been action.  The Boys to Men organization, with which I am active, and the Focus on Youth Summer Employment Program have been successful in encouraging connections for both male students and female students in the TDSB.  The sense of belonging that comes from connections such as these and after school programming leads to curriculum connections and credit acquisition and guidance counseling that encourages future planning.  Our work in Ward 10 to reach out to students who have left or are thinking of it includes re-engagement programs or co-operative programs that promote understanding of relevance of learning to getting a job.
 
But more than this we need to move forward developing other initiatives, which has already begun.  We have worked to link learning with certificates that are work related.  Our specialized certificates in high skills majors and the apprenticeships are re-engaging boys.  This follows from the new curriculum that is coming forward from the province that is more activity oriented and will allow a more individualized approach to learning which helps everyone better use their intelligences.
 
Other discussions in the TDSB are around single gender schools in the future.  Research and further discussions will be brought forward by TDSB research staff later this Fall.  Where this goes in Ward 10 depends upon what response you as the community give me when the information is in.  I will keep you informed.

Dear Public School Supporter,
 
On Oct 4 a calendar from me, as Ward 10 School Trustee, was distributed to students at Ossington Old Orchard PS to take home to their parents. This calendar, in error, had my campaign website address on it.
 
I sincerely apologize to all Public School supporters in Ward 10 for this error and I am withdrawing the calendar immediately.
 
Sincerely,
Chris Bolton
Ward 10 – Trinity-Spadina Trustee

On October 25 the municipal elections allow voters to cast their vote in three categories: mayor, councillor and school board trustee. Most voters realize the importance of the first two but some voters say that they don’t understand why they would vote for the school trustee, particularly if they do not have any children in school or feel they do not have connections with the local school. But there are very important reasons for casting a vote for trustee.
 
Why vote for school trustee?
 
1. Everyone, either directly with realty taxes or indirectly through rent, pays education taxes. While not all of your taxes go to the local school board, one of the prime responsibilities of the trustees for the local school boards is to allocate taxes to priorities in your area.
 
2. Although it is a common misconception that schools are about kindergarten to grade 12 education, this is not true. In the Toronto District School Board there are over 185,000 continuing education learners and growing. In Ward 10 over 70% of our households do not have children in the schools and residents should be asking for increased service through continuing education for life-long learners.
 
3. With the increase in population in the downtown we need to insure that flexible learning opportunities are available in school buildings that cater to all voters in the form of community hubs and not just through more limited educational options.
 
4. Schools represent a major source of parkland and green space. Voters should be voting for trustees based upon their position on keeping this resource for common use in the community.
 
Visit my website for more information on Ward 10 and the Elections at www.chrisbolton.ca

In the community news Trustee Bruce Davis expresses concerned about racial balance on the TDSB Board of Trustees. On this issue the Chair of the Board he does not speak for me. He has it wrong. Because, if we follow his logic, then the Board of Trustees would have to have over 100 seats to represent all the cultural, religious and language groups in the TDSB family. It is not that we should not have Muslim representatives, as Trustee Davis mentions, or any other group on the Board of Trustees. It is that, regardless of who is on the Board, all our communities should feel that they have a place at the education table in the TDSB. Everyone should feel that their voice is being heard and represented. I would say that the communities of each ward must ensure by their vote that anyone who is elected is the best person for the position whether they are Muslim, Christian, Jewish or Hindu or a member of any other group. Additionally, when the elected trustees are at the Board of Trustees table, they must ensure that they are representing both the community that voted for them and the city in all its diversity.
 
We already have one group that brings together ethnocultural communities from across the city in a forum called The Ethnocultural Community Network. The Network speaks about ethnocultural and equity specific issues and is one place to start discussions on inclusionary practices. These types of forums and representative groupings should continue to expand so that our schools, our school councils, and a representation of our community views makes sure our equity policy implementation is evolving and supportive. This is where we start on building a process of equity and access in the schools, then we can consider how we get the messages to the board table through our elected representatives—whoever they are.