This weeks entry “Third quarter of the game” was submitted by Robert Small

Robert Small is the Founder of Legacy Enterprises, the artistic creator of the official Black History posters in Canada, and owner of the Small Gallery located in Toronto. Robert is a Husband, a father, a community leader as well as a member of the Black Daddies Club.

Third Quarter of the Game

warmth

Brandon Hay

Black Daddies Club

Please take some time and read this weeks submission for the Black Daddies Club column in Sway magazine released on November 15, 2010.

This entry was sent in by Black Daddies Club member Colwyn Burchall, Jr. Author and Black Daddies Club member

Check the link
Fathers Day column

warmth

Brandon Hay
Black Daddies Club
www.blackdaddiesclub.com

click on the link below

Sterotypes of \”A black male misunderstood\”

Warmth

Black Daddies Club Administrator

http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/2010/11/calling-all-fathers.html

calling-all-fathers.html

*Black Daddies Club starts weekly column in Sway magazine November 1^st, 2010:

We are really excited over here at BDC with this new partnership with Sway magazine. The Black Daddies Club weekly column will give Black Fathers in BDC an opportunity to share their stories of struggles and triumphs as Black Fathers.

Please take a look at our first story that was submitted by BDC member

Colwyn Burchall, Jr.

http://swaymag.ca/2010/11/black-daddies-club-weekly-the-gift/

As Black Daddies Club (BDC) celebrates our 3 year anniversary this November 2010, we have collectively decided to go on a 6-8 month hiatus in order to build the infrastructure and team that we feel is needed to attain the goals that we plan on reaching over the next 3years.

The “Daddies Vote series” will be BDC’s last events for 2010.

The first 3 years of BDC existence has been rewarding and challenging; our aim was to go into various priority communities where conventional programming has not been reaching the regular black man and black community. We can say that we were able to obtain this, however we would now like to take this further.

It is important for us to create various programs with and for the community to address the relevant issues they face. We want to develop programming strictly for the need of the people. This has been and continues to be our focus for the future.

The vision for BDC over the next 3 years:

In three years our goal is to obtain charitable status, a body of  at least five paid staff, a physical BDC location or office space,  an increase in our member base (national and international), an increase in the amount of effective and creative community programming, and a structured business plan to create effective governance and business practices.

Within the next 5-10 years my goal is to step down as Executive Director of Black Daddies Club and pass over the BDC reins to a future community leader who will be able to take BDC to the next level.

The goal as we are building BDC infrastructure is to think 7 generations ahead and 7 generation behind to make sure that history doesn’t repeat in a negative cycle but rather in a positive cycle for the future leaders of our community. This is important since we pride ourselves on being a “Movement built on Love”.

If you are interested in exploring the opportunities of becoming involved in the BDC movement and helping us grow, we will be having a planning workshop that will feature a key aspect of building for the future. There will be a presentation and discussion led by MAS Consultants on the importance of “Board building and Governance” on November 5^th in room 303 at Metro Hall from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

The follow up meeting to discuss our plan and activity for the next 6 – 8 months  will be held December 10^th in room 303 at Metro Hall from 6:30pm to 9:30pm

These meetings are much more than information sessions therefore we ask only those that are highly interested in developing BDC to attend

Please contact me brandon@blackdaddiesclub.com, if you would like to attend.

Thank You

Brandon Hay
Executive Director
Black Daddies Club
brandon@blackdaddiesclub.com
www.blackdaddiesclub.com

1. What are your plans to engage parents more in schools, specifically fathers?

a) All parents should be engaged in their children’s schools.  We need to provide more evenings like Literacy and Math nights to give parents the tools to work with their children.  We should also be looking at learning from a different perspective, not just spending time at home reading a book, but, to play games, puzzles, crafts that interest the child and the parent to work together.  Specifically, fathers the learning I am talking about is tailored made for fathers as well as mothers.  Fathers can teach their children how to play chess, cards, painting, activity books etc. This will help develop a wonderful relationship that will go with each grade your child goes into.  In addition, I will work with our libraries to recommend books about family relationships.  I bought a book for my son and my husband to read together called “My Dad and Me” which was simple to read and promoted the positive relationship between a child and his Dad.  Books like this are great because they often set out all kinds of different activites that Fathers or Mothers could do with “special time” with their children.

2) Some parents due to work constraints are not able to make parent teacher meetings; do you have any creative ideas as to how teachers can communicate to parents of their students?

a) The need for both parents to work full time is a reflection of todays economy and I pledge to work hard with families to be sure that they are welcomed into our schools and have the same opportunities as other families to have access to the teachers and principals of our schools.  If I become your trustee you will also have full time access to me.

b) Usually, when the parent teacher meetings are held they are held for one afternoon and one evening so that all parents will have an opportunity to meet with the teacher.  But, do remember that teachers and principals are available and responsible to you everyday.  If you have a question or concern, please do not wait for a meet the teacher night to speak to the teacher/principal about the issue.  Remembering that teachers are in class most of the day, you may have to leave a message for a return call, but, our teachers care about your children and should respond to your call quickly.  If that does not happen, you should call the principal and if there is still not action you should then call your superintendent.  Every parent should know the name of your superintendent at your school, should you require assistance.  Failing all of that, I as a trustee would be happy to assist.

c) If there is a monthly newsletter, perhaps one teacher or two could contribute a column to parents about the happenings in their class, we have to start sharing some creative ideas of how to do better job in communicating with parents and I look forward to any parents bringing their ideas forward.

3) How important is it for you to work with the community/ parents to create change within our schools?

a) Absolutely, hands down the biggest thing we have to do is reach out to each school community and the parents to create change.We need to stand up and be proud of our schools. We need to hold town hall meetings where parents can express their opinions regarding things they are concerned about but also can share some of the great ideas that are out there which can make community learning evenings fun and involving for all.  We need to get the media out to events and show them why it’s great to be in a Catholic schools.  We need to allow our children to sing, play instruments, show art works and the like and be proud of their efforts and know that their parents are standing beside them just as proud as they are.  To be creative, we need to look at all the opportunities that might be great for our kids to do that would add to their learning, ie. a tour of a factory that makes books that they read.  Parents could get together in the evening and the classes that went could sit and tell the parents all about this great experience that they had.

d) Funding will only get tighter in Ontario as enrollment shrinks, it will be our role as parents that can keep our schools new, exciting and a place to be proud of in the future.  I feel strongly about this issue and will look to donating the major part of my trustee honourarium back to the board to develop parent support.

4. Do you think the afro-centric school model is needed? And do you see the need of a similar model in this area?

While this is a major issue right now and I do not have all the statistics I would like to have at my hands to properly answer this question, I will answer it from my heart and my opinion. I believe as soon as you start separating a culture for any reason (not including specialties like art, music, athletics etc.) it is not a positive thing. I remember when I was young we had a high school that was known for a school where the lower learners went to when they left grade 8.  You never wanted anyone to say you are going to ……… school.  That is too bad.  It set a negative tone, and many of the students there became aggressive and known to be bullies because they acted out the reputation they had been given by the community because of the school they went to.  What I would like to know is if the students going there have been hand picked for there or is it filled because of the catchment area of the school.

Does the school have a positive safe school plan in action.  I would need a lot more information than I have to be in a position to give a solid answer on this except to say that I hope we can open our schools to all students and that we can work with children having difficulties maintaining discipline with social workers, psychologists or outside professional help if the child needs it.

5) Some parents feel that compared to the west, the east schools board trustee has the olds man club; what progressive ideas will bring to schools in this area?

A. On many board committees that I sit on, there is some jesting going back and forth between trustees about what the west gets and the east gets, but, truly there is an effort to make sure things are fairly even.  There is not much that I am aware of that is done for the west that is not done for the east.

B) What I am going to ask parents in Ward 8 to do is to stand up and SHOUT!!  I have my own ideas about what needs to be done and I think with all the interviews and facebook etc. alot of you probably know some of the things that I would like to do.  But the people who can make the big difference is YOU!!!  Send your trustee (and I hope it.s me) all kinds of ideas even if you are not sure it would work we can put everything in a pot and out may come some extraordinary ideas that we can work on together.  We have to be creative in ways to do things that don.t always involve budget because as you are aware (*it has been the main focus of this campaign) we can not exceed the balanced budget.  But there are a thousand things we can do that might not cost alot to do.

3). Without a great deal of thought, maybe a parent or two could meet with the principal and suggest that they would like to take up a parent petition to request that the zoo provide free passes to the students at your school because of how much they can learn and do not be afraid to say that there are no extra funds in the school budget to pay for the admission.  Parents, lets not sit back and ‘let the other guy do it “, you are the other guy, pick something small or big, but get involved, have a voice, MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR CHILD.  PARENT INVOLVEMENT RESULTS IN INCREASED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

6. Do you have any plans for after 3:30pm programming within your schools for the students and the community on a whole, is something like this needed in Malvern. Why or why not?

a). One of the greatest thing I have learned about the Malvern corridor itself is that in the past couple of years there has been increased community support.  When I sat with the manager at the Malvern Community Centre and I saw the wonderful programs they offer there to our young people, the facilities that will serve our youth into organized sports and most of all what impressed me was the artwork from the young artists in our schools that adorn the walls at the community centre.  Not only do we appreciate the atmosphere they give the centre, but, it may me think about how proud these artists must have been when they finished this work and left it for those of us who like to gaze at it and try to understand the spirit of our youth.

b). In addition, we have the Tamil Health Centre going in at the Town Centre and that is so exciting as it shows that the Ministry is responding to some of the needs of our diverse culture.  We have the Malvern Family Resource Centre where Alex works hard with various groups to communicate and support each other.  A true outreach to groups in our community who need to just talk to each other.

c) Do we need more - yes, not just in Malvern, but, throughout Ward 8.  The full-day kindergarten issue is already in place in a couple of schools in our area and more schools are coming on line this year and even more the next.  There are still issues being sorted out on this matter, ie. daycare before and after school etc.  and I would like to be involved in this committee.

d) I would love to get together some school groups in some kind of physical activities with the families and a personal trainer at a community center where they can do an hour of physical fitness and keep families doing a positive example of good health.

e) In addition, we could create programs after 3:30pm where older students could create some projects for the kindergarten , grade 1, 2 ,3 to work on after school in care.  We should also form mentoring programs for the grade 3.s working towards their EQAO and the grade 8.s working with the grade 6 who are studying for their EQAO tests.

7) If you were going to vote for someone else in this ward other than yourself, who would you vote for and why? (you have to answer this question)

a. I think that this is an unfair question to a candidate.  You spend so much time self-focused during debates and interviews and answering email interviews it is difficult to really assess fully the other candidates.  I won.t say who I would vote for for sure, but, I will express my opinion regarding people running for school trustees.

B. The one frustrating factor is that people can say anything they want and there has been very little opportunity to correct the information they are offering despite the fact that they are incorrect.  It has been a campaign that has been based on two statements from the majority of candidates (not just in Ward 8, but in all Wards across the system) :

c) I will balance the budget –  the budget is balanced and estimated to be so for three years.  I can understand people saying they will adhere to the budget, but, I cannot count the number of times candidates have said the first they will do is balance the budget.

d) The second issue is to increase Catholicism within the system.  Total agreement here, but, very repetitive here.  We can.t all just say that, there are so many other issues that we can talk to that are not getting out there as part of the discussions we are having.

g) At the last debate the Ward 8 candidates took part in the moderate ended the evening by saying, ‘this is the best group of candidates I have ever worked with, when they got together before the debate it was like a group of friends liking and supporting each other in the Catholic way” I will take the higher Catholic road and not pick just one alternative, but, if it can.t be me I think Ward 8 could be well served by the candidates.

1) What are your plans to engage parents more in schools, specifically fathers?

a) For starters, I believe parent engagement is something that can be improved upon in all schools.  Either there isn’t enough engagement, or there is the wrong kind of engagement resulting in an unhealthy dynamic between staff/parents/community.

b) My approach is a personal and hands-on one – I trust most school communities have already identified areas for improvement in terms of parent engagement, and are working on improving these areas.  As trustee, I will do what I can to move initiatives forward, that need additional support.  I would also like speak with parents in the school yard, and be a vocal advocate for parent engagement.

c) As I mentioned at the barbershop discussion, it’s about understanding what works for each community, and different types of parents.  As school chair for the local school last year, I learned parents preferred volunteering at one-time events vs. attending council meetings.  I also learned many parents loved to bake, and willingly offered their baking expertise for our fun fair.

d) For fathers, it may be a different kind of request.  Related to the fun fair example, perhaps fathers can help with a fun fair game-building “bee” where they can lend a hand with building new games.

e) I also believe students who are engaged and feel a belonging to the school are the best promoters for bringing in parents, mothers and fathers alike.

2) Some parents due to work constraints are not able to make parent teacher meetings; do you have any creative ideas as to how teachers can communicate to parents of their students?

a) Certainly, technology can be a tool.  Schools that have their school calendar and school council meeting minutes e-mailed or posted on their school websites can help communicate information to busy parents.

b) I also believe students who are engaged are the best advocates and promoters of school happenings.  Also, students function as the translator that bridges a parent with language barriers with the school.  So definitely, engaging students and encouraging them to be leaders within the school community will help improve communication.

c) I also believe in a parent buddy system.  Having a parent “buddy” who can be present, can communicate the information back to the parent who cannot be available, to even translate as necessary.

d) There are also grants schools can apply to that can provide additional funding to help improve these communication links.  Sometimes just a bit of extra money can make the difference, whether it be by funding translations, holding a one-time event, or setting up a sustainable communication tool.

e) How important is it for you to work with the community/parents to create change within our schools?

f) I believe it is essential.  I would also like to add school staff to the community/parent/trustee engagement.  And again I would like to stress that it’s not just about engagement, but more importantly it’s about maintaining a healthy dynamic.  As I mentioned at the barbershop discussion, if the dynamic between these groups is not a healthy one, we may overshoot the optimal point where additional engagement may actually have a negative impact on student success.

4. Do you think the afro-centric school model is needed?  And do you see the need of a similar model in this area?

a) I strongly believe a need for school model that can be tailored to each student is needed.  Respectfully, I believe that a heritage-centric model only addresses one aspect of student uniqueness.  Although I have not been at the school, my guess is as a TDSB school, it still leans heavily on the same academic curriculum, which I believe really needs to change.

b) One idea would be a compact learning core that is mandatory for all students, then building blocks that students can pursue based on their strengths.  Use of different learning styles.  Enables students to pursue heritage studies of choice.  All towards discovering and developing each students interests and strengths, vs. a one-size-fits-all approach.  An approach that can be adopted in each school, not just to a lucky few.

5.Some parents feel that compared to the west, the east schools board trustee has the old mans club; what progressive ideas will bring to schools in this area?

a) I’m not exactly sure what folks are thinking about when it comes to that term, old mans club.  I’m going to assume that it’s about trustees who prefer to cling to status quo, don’t listen well and don’t synch well with the community.

b) I believe I am as far from that as one can be.  As a woman, as a ‘visible minority’, as a parent, as a neighbour.  My commitment is a personal, hands-on and genuine approach to the trustee role.  My vision for Education is one where students get to discover and develop their own uniqueness, their best potential.  I’m driven to help students succeed based on their uniqueness vs. uniformity and I believe that’s about as progressive an idea as it gets.

6.Do you have any plans for after 3:30pm programming within your schools for the students and the community on a whole, is something like this is needed in Malvern.  Why or why not?

A) Yes, I would very much like to introduce more programming within our school communities.  I believe this will benefit by filling in gaps in the current curriculum for students, and bring the school community closer through programming for parents also.

b) My approach is to get connected with each school community, and the community groups in the area.  I want to understand whether extra programming would benefit (I’m certain this will almost always be a yes), what success looks like for each school community, then how we can achieve this.  And how I can best help as trustee.

c) I would like to have programming for students, and for parents.  I believe it is important to get local, to build on existing ideas, to personalize to the individual school community level based on need, opportunities.  Some ideas:

d) An entrepreneur club for parents during the day, what I’ll call the “9 to 3” club.  Many stay at home parents would like to work, but few jobs match their need for flexibility, for hours that correspond to school hours (when their children are in school), for zero commute.  This would be an opportunity for stay at home parents to find or create employment, function as a support group and learning hub, and link them to relevant community resources.

e) A homework club for students after hours.  With proper clearance, staffed by volunteers.  Opportunities to go beyond homework to possible mentoring opportunities, entrepreneurship opportunities, etc.

7. If you were going to vote for someone else in this ward other than yourself, who would you vote for and why?

a) I would vote for Robert.  In the short amount of time that I’ve known him, I believe that Robert’s enthusiasm for this role, for this community, for the kids, is genuine.  My bet is that Robert will play a leadership role in this community whether he becomes trustee or not.

What are your plans to engage parents more in schools, specifically fathers?

1) un-answered

Some parents due to work constraints are not able to make parent teacher meetings; do you have any creative ideas as to how teachers can communicate to parents of their students?

2) Yes……..I think that it is important to build an electronic highway.  Virtually all parents have access to email!  We can also have electronic newsletters, blogs, websites.  This is cheap, easy and large amounts of information can bew dispensed in seconds.

How important is it for you to work with the community/ parents to create change within our schools?

3) It is critical.  Without parents and the larger community, my job becomes almost impossible.  Our children need their village to sustain them.  This village consists of parents, community members, teachers etc.

Do you think the afro-centric school model is needed? And do you see the need of a similar model in this area?

4) I think that the afro-centric school is needed now, considering the embedded racism that still exists in large institutions.  However, our world is changing and we owe it to our children to broaden their perspectives not narrow them.  I would like to see a modified model in the Malvern area and the schools used as community hubs.

Some parents feel that compared to the west, the east schools board trustee has the olds man club; what progressive ideas will bring to schools in this area?

5) Community hubs, technological advances, expert advocacy on behalf of parents, a global perspective, vision and dedication.

Do you have any plans for after 3:30pm programming within your schools for the students and the community on a whole, is something like this needed in Malvern. Why or why not?

6) Yes!  Absolutely!  We need to use our schools as community hubs!  Why heat and light empty buildings when they could be used for before and after school programs?

If you were going to vote for someone else in this ward other than yourself, who would you vote for and why? (you have to answer this question)

7) Hmmmmmmmm, I have to say that I believe that I am the most qualified and experienced for this position.

1.         What are your plans to engage parents more in schools, specifically fathers?

I plan to continue to build on our active Ward 21 Council, mostly made up of parents but also including students and community members. Over the past three years, I have organized parent workshops on effective advocacy, listening with empathy, and how to communicate non-defensively with teachers and principals. These types of opportunities continue to promote parent involvement in our schools. To make meetings more accessible, I have also ensured translators and child care are provided upon request. Indeed, research confirms that fathers are less involved than mothers in their children’s education, so we must attempt to change the culture. We must reach out to fathers in a culturally responsive way, such as through activity-based initiatives. We must also recognize that some children may not have a father or may be living in a single-mother household; and this is why mentorship programs and positive male role models are so important.

2.         Some parents due to work constraints are not able to make parent teacher meetings; do you have any creative ideas as to how teachers can communicate to parents of their students?

I continue to encourage both parents and teachers to make use of the school agenda or have phone meetings that do not require the travel time needed to meet in person. Electronic means, however, remain an area of great potential. Email, of course, but also online communities where a parent can enter an electronic classroom and view their child’s work, review grades, and communicate with the teacher. The Board is currently engaged in conversations around technology in the classroom, and it is important that we include electronic means of parent involvement.

3.         How important is it for you to work with the community/ parents to create change within our schools?

It is a priority of mine to engage parents and the broader community in every aspect of my work at the TDSB. Through parent involvement, schools must become community hubs with an inclusive social atmosphere that welcomes and reflects the diversity in our communities. With every decision the TDSB makes, it must rely on thoughtful consideration of the views of parents. That is why I am committed to community consultation, having chaired the Board’s budget consultation in Scarborough and holding various community meetings to solicit input directly from parents and taxpayers.

4.         Do you think the afro-centric school model is needed? And do you see the need of a similar model in this area?

I supported the Africentric alternative school proposal, and it was the right decision. Newly released student achievement results show an increase in test scores. This is good news. In mainstream schools, however, research suggests students have been disengaged to the point of leaving school. That is why it is so important to ensure that curriculum and pedagogy is reflective of diverse cultures, histories and experiences - and not just at the Africentric school, but in all schools across the system. We must see the Africentric school as a learning opportunity for us to determine best practices, which we can then apply to mainstream schools. All students can benefit from inclusive curriculum and culturally relevant teaching, especially in a city that is increasingly diverse.

5.         Some parents feel that compared to the west, the east schools board trustee has the olds man club; what progressive ideas will bring to schools in this area?

Over the past four years, I have supported incredible change in Scarborough-Rouge River. The first Nubian class at Dr. Marion Hilliard Senior Public School. The first Black culture elementary class at Grey Owl Junior Public School. A full-service program to incorporate health and social services at Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute. An annual Ward 21 tree planting to encourage environmental education through social action. A tribute to seniors at Yee Hong Centre, helping to instill in young people a sense of respect for their elders. All under my first term as your school trustee. I look forward to continue to build on these initiatives and drive progressive change in Scarborough.

6.         Do you have any plans for after 3:30pm programming within your schools for the students and the community on a whole, is something like this needed in Malvern. Why or why not?

After-school programming is absolutely needed in Malvern. This year, I was successful in pushing for the inclusion of Dr. Marion Hilliard Senior Public School and Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute in the Priority Schools Initiative. As a result, community groups can now access Hilliard and Pearson for free community use after-hours and on weekends. This is so important, because many community groups wish to run programs but cannot afford the permit fees. I will continue to encourage after-school programming as I have in the past, working in conjunction with such groups as the 3T Program, TAIBU, Malvern Family Resource Centre, just to name a few.

7.         If you were going to vote for someone else in this ward other than yourself, who would you vote for and why? (you have to answer this question)

I would vote for François Guérin for French public school board trustee. He is a strong advocate for his constituents and he has my support.

–
Re-Elect Shaun Chen, Trustee
Ward 21, Scarborough-Rouge River
Toronto District School Board
Tel: (416) 893-9802
www.shaunchen.ca