(Niagara At Large is posting the following media release from the St. Catharines & District Council of Women for your information.)
‘Educational Inequalities in our Schools and Community-based Solutions to Narrowing the Achievement Gap’ will be the subject of a free public meeting on Thursday October 13th at 8 p.m. at the St. Catharines Centennial Library 54 Church Street.
Brock sociologist Kevin Gosine
According to guest speaker Kevin Gosine , a Brock University sociologist, there is “a persistent academic achievement gap among Ontario high school students”, and while every student should get an equal opportunity for a good education, ” there are institutional processes within our schools that work to perpetuate educational inequalities based on class and race.”
Mr. Gosine, who grew up in regent Park in Toronto, worked as a researcher at the first Pathways to Education program in that area and continues to do research for Pathways Canada , knows how well this community-based educational support program works for students and why it has been so successful in Regent Park and has been replicated in 10 other communities across Canada.
While the Niagara District School Board has followed a different path by setting up a special school in Welland this year, Kevin Gosine will speak about the achievements of Pathways to Education and other community-based programs that work within existing schools and have reduced drop out rates, helped students avoid stigmatization and moved many along the path to post-secondary education.
Niagara At Large 