YUFA
News
More than 110 people packed a meeting room of Driftwood Community Centre on 7 March to discuss the future of public post-secondary education in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood.
The hearing featured a panel of local teachers and activists and was moderated by Toronto media personality and celebrity student Paul Riley.
But it was the audience who stole the spotlight, as many participants used the event to speak passionately about their concerns.
David Robinson, representative of co-sponsor Canadian Association of University Teachers, was impressed. According to Robinson, it was the largest community turnout of any of the hearings to date, which are scheduled to occur across the country in the coming months.
Half the participants indicated an interest in becoming involved in a university-community partnership.
"Clearly, our work to develop a community-university partnership has just begun," said Lorna Erwin, YUFA's hearing organiser.
"The presentations at the hearing, the discussion, and the [evaluation] forms that were filled out provide many ideas about where the problems lie, the resources that are needed, and the processes through which the partnership should be built. We are embarking on an exciting venture."
Participants had lots of ideas about what are the biggest issues facing public education in their community and how a university-community partnership could make a difference.
"The biggest issue is lack of access and lack of opportunities to earn a living to adequately fund an education," says J. Romero.
Mary Stasiuk, a co-ordinator of after school programs, agrees:
"All parents want their children to be able to compete with elites being raised in the current two-tiered system."Ouerdo Prescod is also concerned about establishing a common playing field for all students through better economic support.
Participants proposed many ways access could be improved for community students, including scholarships, an "earn while you learn" program, an admissions quota for North York residents, and a fee waiver for local students in need.
In Sherrefa Wilson's opinion, "The biggest issues are lack of money and encouragement from teachers and whole lot of discrimination."
A university-community partnership could make a difference, Wilson recommends, if we "Start with more student tutors from York. Involve high school students with programs at York. If we are given a chance, we will succeed."
E.O. Brathwaite points to another possible collaboration, "We need the school to reflect the diversity of the school population in [its]
teaching staff [through] strategies to get more teachers of visible [minorities and] black teachers into the education program at York University."Satesh H. suggests that community students could make a difference "by coming together with York admin and explaining [their] point of view. We will be better understood."
Rahel Appiagyei also thinks "students are misheard and misunderstood by some authorities who expect wrong." She believes university teachers should be schooled in these issues. She also advocates one-on-one tutoring for community youth and opening York facilities such as the gyms to the community.
Iania Thompson sums up many participants hopes for university-community partnership: "It would raise and motivate high school students to make University an option."
Related story: YUFA founds
Jane-Finch Community Bursary, challenges members to contribute