Access to great Math education
The Ontario government has articulated equity and an inclusive education strategy for Ontario schools. The 2009 document by the Ministry of Education, "Realizing the Promise of Diversity... Ontario's Equity and Inclusive Education strategy" aims to embracing diversity and moving beyond tolerance to acceptance. The goal of the Ontario government is to be the most inclusive in the world based on the research that students who feel more welcome and accepted in their schools are more likely to succeed academically. The Ontario government further believes that regardless of background or personal circumstances, everyone in its publicly funded education system must be welcomed and accepted enabling them to reach their highest potential. It bases its belief on the research that student achievement will improve when barriers to inclusion are identified and removed and when all are students are respected and see themselves reflected in their learning and their environment.
Even though the Ontario government has many noble aims, the situation on the ground has many disparities. A recent Globe and Mail study discusses "How Income Inequality hurts every Canadian's chance of building a better life." Canadian neighborhoods are becoming increasingly polarized along income lines. As a result, fulfilling the noble promise of giving every child an equal shot at a better life becomes harder to fulfill. Although the Globe and Mail considers only 2 measurable factors being
a) The standardized test scores
b) Statistics Canada income data
this data paints a clear picture of inequality in Toronto’s public elementary schools. High-income areas are primarily home to high-achieving schools while lower-income areas have a higher number of lower-scoring schools. This problem is further compounded when you tie in the fact that these lower income areas in Toronto are largely comprised of newly landed immigrants. At John A Leslie public school in Scarborough that falls within a lower income area, 70% of the kids are born outside of Canada. This brings us to the key issue as to how are students who fall within a lower income boundary within the Toronto area going to obtain access to a stellar Math education and classroom culture?
Even though the Ontario government has many noble aims, the situation on the ground has many disparities. A recent Globe and Mail study discusses "How Income Inequality hurts every Canadian's chance of building a better life." Canadian neighborhoods are becoming increasingly polarized along income lines. As a result, fulfilling the noble promise of giving every child an equal shot at a better life becomes harder to fulfill. Although the Globe and Mail considers only 2 measurable factors being
a) The standardized test scores
b) Statistics Canada income data
this data paints a clear picture of inequality in Toronto’s public elementary schools. High-income areas are primarily home to high-achieving schools while lower-income areas have a higher number of lower-scoring schools. This problem is further compounded when you tie in the fact that these lower income areas in Toronto are largely comprised of newly landed immigrants. At John A Leslie public school in Scarborough that falls within a lower income area, 70% of the kids are born outside of Canada. This brings us to the key issue as to how are students who fall within a lower income boundary within the Toronto area going to obtain access to a stellar Math education and classroom culture?