Latina/o youth and Toronto public schools

This is interesting tidbit about schools  in Toronto  and the Latino youth !!

"Why do 40% of Latino/a youth not complete high schol in Toronto public schools? What can b done about it?

According to a recent study coordinated by Rob Brown of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), approximately 20% of students who start grade 9 do not complete high school four years later. Among students who speak Spanish, the non-completion rate of is almost double. This means that approximately 40% of young Latina/o students are not completing high school, that is, leaving school without graduating.

We believe that this issue is of crucial importance to our community. For this reason, we are inviting students, parents, teachers, educators and all concerned to share with us your views on the following questions:

1) Why are Latina/o students twice as likely to leave school than their peers?

2) What can be done -and/or is being done- to address this situation?"

If you would like to share your views please write a text of approximately 600 to 1,000 words about one of the two questions and submit it by email before January 30, 2008. If you wish to address the two questions, please feel free to send two documents, one for each question. A jury of community members will read all submissions.

Selected contributions will be included in a publication to be released in 2008. Contributions can be submitted in Spanish, English or Portuguese, and can be submitted by an individual or by a group.

This call is open to all people who are willing to participate, without any restrictions such as age, nationality, birthplace, migratory status, place of residence, etc.

In the body of the message please include the title or the contributions, the name of the author or authors, e-mail, telephone and mailing address for contact purposes. Only the organizing committee will have access to this information.

Please submit your contributions to Daniela Mantilla at lared@oise.utoronto.ca. For more information Email: lared@oise.utoronto.ca or visit the website: http://home.oise.utoronto.ca/~lared

[via social justice]