In 2008, The Latin American Research, Education and Development (LARED) of OISE/UT, had a call for submissions about a problem effecting latino youth. Being of Colombian background this topic was close to my heart; 4 out of every 10 Latino youths drop out from Toronto public schools. Something is wrong with this picture. I submitted by opinion piece, it got chosen and is now published in a book called, Four in Ten: Spanish-Speaking Youth and School Drop out in Toronto. To read all other articles published click here.
This is what I had to say...
The diversity one can encounter exploring the city of Toronto is an enlightening privilege.The degree of multiculturalism is unique and rarely found elsewhere than in Torontoniansocial dynamics. It is a composition of multiple backgrounds and communities joined together to form a mosaic of colourful cultures that give life to this grand city. Throughout the year various cultural demonstrations take place; exhibiting their heritage, art, cuisine,beliefs, ancestry and overall expressing their story as a community.
These communities, who now find a home in Toronto, take a stand integrating themselvesinto their new society in an effective manner: socially, politically and economically but still preserving and maintaining a unity amongst its members. Unfortunately, the Latin American Community in Toronto fails to provide a strong, organized and influential presence in this mosaic. Our community lacks a strong foundation and unity which is imperative for not only survival but for evolution, growth and the opportunity to make a positive impact upon theminds of our future generations. This missing element instigates division amongst our own kind, debilitating the community as a whole.
A study led by Robert Brown et al. for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) that was published in 2006 reveals that approximately 20% of students who enter grade 9 do not complete their schooling. Furthermore, 40% of Spanish speaking students drop out and remain without a high school diploma. The doubling in numbers amongst Latina/o youth cannot be ignored and certainly cannot be viewed as coincidental. Instead it should be taken as an indication that the problem does not lie within the youth, but rather in the community as a whole.
The drop out rate almost twice the average among Latina/o students is a direct
sign of lack of strength, unity, and structure within the Latino community in Toronto. The deficiency of unity amongst Latinas/os has impaired the educational advancement of this rapidly growing community. The main debilitating factor is that, as a community, we focus on marking the differences between our diverse nationalities; Mexicans vs. Colombians, Peruvians vs. Salvadorians, Ecuadorians vs. Bolivians, etc, and ignore the problem our youth face currently. It is imperative that we eradicate these nationalistic notions which rather than unifying and building our community within the Canadian mosaic, instead promote division within our own community. Our presence cannot be blurred or tainted, for as a community we have much to offer.
The continuation of weakened ties among community members, will simply fortify the
already existing stereotypes of Latinos. North American portrayal of Latinas/os is disturbing and heart breaking, the endless representation as gardeners, maids, pool boys, drug dealers and gangsters needs to be overcome. This cannot continue to be the image that we abide by in our newfound home. Failing to contest these social constructs indicates passively that we validate them as our identity, which in turn will augment the drop out rates of Latino youths.The message delivered to Latino/a youth by this passivity is the toleration, acceptance and promotion of mediocrity, conformity and failure.
The high dropout rate among Latina/o students is a community crisis that has overtaken and contributed to the unacceptable number of Latino high school dropouts. Our younger generation admires the wrong models of Latinas/os, and as a community we are responsible for changing this. Perhaps providing an immediate counter for all the misconceived and erroneous representations of Latinos worldwide is a vast task to undertake, but locally it is urgent that we stand up and make an impact.
The fragile state of the Latino community in Toronto is taking a toll on future development. Resources, role models, programs, motivation, mentorship program, guidelines and cultural pride are pivotal for the growth, productivity and increasing accomplishment of Latina/o youth. The logic behind strengthening a community in crisis is the trickle down effect it will have. As a united people it will embed within each individual the necessity to build upon a community identity, which calls for a strong and stimulated mind, so that it in turn the individual can contribute to the whole.
Ultimately, this will make a positive impact among the mosaic of cultures that exist in Canada. A stimulated and creative mind can only be achieved through education and the unified community will be the model that will provide resources and nurture this
development. Youths in turn, will have access to an identity that can be adapted and utilized to advance as individuals. The ties between all Latinas/os, from every nationality must be notably strong, incapacitating the entrance of division, negativity and conformity. In the end advancing together as one while marking our presence in the city of Toronto will minimize the severity of our young people’s current state of educational failure.
This is what I had to say...
The diversity one can encounter exploring the city of Toronto is an enlightening privilege.The degree of multiculturalism is unique and rarely found elsewhere than in Torontoniansocial dynamics. It is a composition of multiple backgrounds and communities joined together to form a mosaic of colourful cultures that give life to this grand city. Throughout the year various cultural demonstrations take place; exhibiting their heritage, art, cuisine,beliefs, ancestry and overall expressing their story as a community.
These communities, who now find a home in Toronto, take a stand integrating themselvesinto their new society in an effective manner: socially, politically and economically but still preserving and maintaining a unity amongst its members. Unfortunately, the Latin American Community in Toronto fails to provide a strong, organized and influential presence in this mosaic. Our community lacks a strong foundation and unity which is imperative for not only survival but for evolution, growth and the opportunity to make a positive impact upon theminds of our future generations. This missing element instigates division amongst our own kind, debilitating the community as a whole.
A study led by Robert Brown et al. for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) that was published in 2006 reveals that approximately 20% of students who enter grade 9 do not complete their schooling. Furthermore, 40% of Spanish speaking students drop out and remain without a high school diploma. The doubling in numbers amongst Latina/o youth cannot be ignored and certainly cannot be viewed as coincidental. Instead it should be taken as an indication that the problem does not lie within the youth, but rather in the community as a whole.
The drop out rate almost twice the average among Latina/o students is a direct
sign of lack of strength, unity, and structure within the Latino community in Toronto. The deficiency of unity amongst Latinas/os has impaired the educational advancement of this rapidly growing community. The main debilitating factor is that, as a community, we focus on marking the differences between our diverse nationalities; Mexicans vs. Colombians, Peruvians vs. Salvadorians, Ecuadorians vs. Bolivians, etc, and ignore the problem our youth face currently. It is imperative that we eradicate these nationalistic notions which rather than unifying and building our community within the Canadian mosaic, instead promote division within our own community. Our presence cannot be blurred or tainted, for as a community we have much to offer.
The continuation of weakened ties among community members, will simply fortify the
already existing stereotypes of Latinos. North American portrayal of Latinas/os is disturbing and heart breaking, the endless representation as gardeners, maids, pool boys, drug dealers and gangsters needs to be overcome. This cannot continue to be the image that we abide by in our newfound home. Failing to contest these social constructs indicates passively that we validate them as our identity, which in turn will augment the drop out rates of Latino youths.The message delivered to Latino/a youth by this passivity is the toleration, acceptance and promotion of mediocrity, conformity and failure.
The high dropout rate among Latina/o students is a community crisis that has overtaken and contributed to the unacceptable number of Latino high school dropouts. Our younger generation admires the wrong models of Latinas/os, and as a community we are responsible for changing this. Perhaps providing an immediate counter for all the misconceived and erroneous representations of Latinos worldwide is a vast task to undertake, but locally it is urgent that we stand up and make an impact.
The fragile state of the Latino community in Toronto is taking a toll on future development. Resources, role models, programs, motivation, mentorship program, guidelines and cultural pride are pivotal for the growth, productivity and increasing accomplishment of Latina/o youth. The logic behind strengthening a community in crisis is the trickle down effect it will have. As a united people it will embed within each individual the necessity to build upon a community identity, which calls for a strong and stimulated mind, so that it in turn the individual can contribute to the whole.
Ultimately, this will make a positive impact among the mosaic of cultures that exist in Canada. A stimulated and creative mind can only be achieved through education and the unified community will be the model that will provide resources and nurture this
development. Youths in turn, will have access to an identity that can be adapted and utilized to advance as individuals. The ties between all Latinas/os, from every nationality must be notably strong, incapacitating the entrance of division, negativity and conformity. In the end advancing together as one while marking our presence in the city of Toronto will minimize the severity of our young people’s current state of educational failure.
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