Toward an alternative community-driven restorative model of school discipline

Introduction -- Education is concomitantly a path for self-actualization and personal growth, a mechanism of social mobility, a crucial factor of labour market outcomes and lifetime earnings, a social determinant of health and quality of life, a fundamental institution in a democratic society, and a human right. Because education is so consequential at the individual and societal levels, barriers to it are a cause of great concern for various stakeholders, including parents, students, and community advocates. As a case in point, several advocates have identified issues pertaining to school discipline processes and outcomes in Nova Scotia (Barjun Consultants, 2001; Black Learners Advisory Committee, 1994; Nunn, 2006). Recently, we learned that Black learners in Nova Scotia are more likely to be subjected to out-of-school suspensions than other students across the province (Woodbury, 2016). Yet, scholarly literature indicates that punitive school discipline, such as out-of-school suspensions, are ineffective, worsen problematic behaviour, alienate students from school, and keep students away from formal learning opportunities (Fenning et al., 2004; Gregory et al., 2010; Jean-Pierre & Parris-Drummond, 2018; Mayer, 2001; Noguera, 2003). <div><br></div><div>This report is based on the main findings of a qualitative study that aimed to address school discipline racial disproportionality in Nova Scotia, conceive an alternative model of school discipline, and promote the academic success of Black learners. A research project was conducted with African Nova Scotian and Black immigrant youth, parents, and community members across the province between 2018 and 2019 in both English and French. Through nine focus groups and 17 interviews, 60 members of the community provided their perspectives and insights to inform the conception of an alternative model of school discipline. A community forum subsequently took place in March 2020 to discuss the findings and main recommendations with community members. Based on the research project and scholarly literature, this report presents key findings and recommendations that can foreground future school discipline policy and interventions to further Black learners’ academic success in Nova Scotia. Overall, the key themes derived from participants’ narratives emphasize the need to adopt alternative non-punitive responses to misconduct—primarily a restorative model—while simultaneously enhancing inclusive curricular and pedagogical practices to foster Black students’ academic success.</div>

Toward an alternative community-driven restorative model of school discipline

Introduction -- Education is concomitantly a path for self-actualization and personal growth, a mechanism of social mobility, a crucial factor of labour market outcomes and lifetime earnings, a social determinant of health and quality of life, a fundamental institution in a democratic society, and a human right. Because education is so consequential at the individual and societal levels, barriers to it are a cause of great concern for various stakeholders, including parents, students, and community advocates. As a case in point, several advocates have identified issues pertaining to school discipline processes and outcomes in Nova Scotia (Barjun Consultants, 2001; Black Learners Advisory Committee, 1994; Nunn, 2006). Recently, we learned that Black learners in Nova Scotia are more likely to be subjected to out-of-school suspensions than other students across the province (Woodbury, 2016). Yet, scholarly literature indicates that punitive school discipline, such as out-of-school suspensions, are ineffective, worsen problematic behaviour, alienate students from school, and keep students away from formal learning opportunities (Fenning et al., 2004; Gregory et al., 2010; Jean-Pierre & Parris-Drummond, 2018; Mayer, 2001; Noguera, 2003). <div><br></div><div>This report is based on the main findings of a qualitative study that aimed to address school discipline racial disproportionality in Nova Scotia, conceive an alternative model of school discipline, and promote the academic success of Black learners. A research project was conducted with African Nova Scotian and Black immigrant youth, parents, and community members across the province between 2018 and 2019 in both English and French. Through nine focus groups and 17 interviews, 60 members of the community provided their perspectives and insights to inform the conception of an alternative model of school discipline. A community forum subsequently took place in March 2020 to discuss the findings and main recommendations with community members. Based on the research project and scholarly literature, this report presents key findings and recommendations that can foreground future school discipline policy and interventions to further Black learners’ academic success in Nova Scotia. Overall, the key themes derived from participants’ narratives emphasize the need to adopt alternative non-punitive responses to misconduct—primarily a restorative model—while simultaneously enhancing inclusive curricular and pedagogical practices to foster Black students’ academic success.</div>

THE COMPLEXITY OF IDENTITY FORMATION OF BLACK LEARNERS ATTENDING HISTORICALLY WHITE SCHOOLS

This purpose of this paper is to examine the complexity of identity formation experienced by black learners attending historically white high schools in the Northern Cape. Black South Africans were considered and treated as both intellectually and racially inferior during the apartheid years. This may have created an identity dilemma for a number of generations of South African blacks. The situation was further exacerbated, when black learners were admitted to historically white schools. The staff component (mostly white) of historically white schools appeared to be inadequately prepared for these drastic changes. Consequently, the school that should normally contribute to developing a positive identity formation of learners, seemingly had the opposite effect on black learners. An empirical investigation, by way of the quantitative research method was employed, to ascertain the perceived effect historically white schools have on the identity formation of black learners attending these schools. Some of the findings of this study indicate the manifestation of negative influences, low educator expectations, the disjuncture between the home- and school education, as well as the high failure and drop-out rate, of black learners, as having an effect on the identity formation of black learners. Certain suggestions are made as to how to address the situation.

A Call for Change in the Public Education System in Nova Scotia

The United Nation’s International Decade for People of African Descent and Nova Scotia’s Ministry of African Nova Scotian Affairs recognize that students of African descent continue to experience inequities. As previous studies indicate, parents of Black learners identified that many educators lack knowledge and experience in understanding students of African descent.This study explored student achievement from the perspective of parents of children of African descent attending public schools in Nova Scotia. Participants included individual interviews and focus groups with parents from rural and urban areas. Based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory framework, a thematic analysis of the data was conducted, a dominant storyline related to the families’ experiences in school and subsequent themes emerged: we are treated differently; we don’t feel connected; we know there are challenges: the resistance of parents; and we deal with injustices but persevere. These findings provide recommendations to improve the educational success for Black learners. Keywords: African Canadian, academic achievement and success, Black students, education, schooling challenges, students of African descent

How Are Black Learners Positioned in Mathematics Classrooms? What Do We Know and What Do We Need to Know?

The proliferation of studies that focus on Black children in the last 20 years has been critical in nuancing the mathematical experiences of Black learners. While this research has provided evidence of the existence of successful Black learners of mathematics and established the different mechanisms that serve as barriers to their success, we know less about what happens in classrooms. Specifically, how are Black learners experiencing mathematics moment-to- moment or, over time. In this paper, we synthesize literature on the positioning of Black learners in mathematics classrooms. Focusing on this topic allows for more understanding on how Black learners are positioned and by whom. Leveraging intersectionality as a tool and focusing on the interpersonal and cultural domains of power, provides some understanding of why Black learners are positioned in particular ways. Findings suggest that Black learners are positioned in both productive and unproductive ways by their peers and teachers. Additionally, these positions are connected to the multiple identities of students and teachers, and how they intersect with issues of power, intersectionality. Implications of this synthesis include considerations for how teachers position students implicitly and explicitly, development of policy that requires professional development around intersectionality and training for teachers to improve their practice. We conclude by recommending that future research use intersectionality theory to uncover inequities that occur during mathematics instruction across grade levels, but particularly in middle school grades.

Article 5 from Series of 5: Black Academic Scholarship Fund (BASF) and education - gaining equity in education and empowering black learners

NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE INFORMING SCIENCE INSTITUTE. Aim/Purpose...................................................................................................................................................................................................... This article explains the movement for Afrocentric public schools in Canada, particularly in Montreal, and the controversy it has generated. It is also argued that Black youth would gain significantly from community based educational programs that root their learning more closely in the life, experiences and needs of their community. Background........................................................................................................................................................................................................ The Black Academic Scholarship Fund (BASF) is a non- profit organization that has been active in the community since 1981. Its main goal is to provide scholarships to visible minority students who are actively pursuing a course of study in an accredited institution. The objective is to enhance the economic status of the Black community and provide more opportunities for students to achieve their educational goals. The organization received its letters Pa-tent in March 1996 with the registered Charity No. 89440 6396. This has facilitated it fundraising initiatives. The motivation for this presentation derives from the commitment of the Black Academic Scholarship Fund (BASF) to responsible social action and hence to the principles of “collaborative unity and existential responsibility “ espoused by the Black Community Forum of Montreal of which it is a member. The paper presents BASF’s actions and focus on “gaining equity in education and empowering black learners” wherever they are in the system. Findings and Community Impact...................................................................................................................................................................... The experiences of the work of BASF and other organization such as the QBBE and the BSC are that Black learners, in Montreal, benefit from community-based education centered on the experiences of African Canadians. These programs are intended are resourced essential by the community. In turn they use this capacity to empower Black youth and their families, and better equip them to navigate public school systems and organize in their communities.

Leading and manage diverse schools in South Africa

All school populations are diverse in many ways. The diversity in South African schools has been compounded since 1994 with the migration of Black learners to former ‘white’ schools. Some schools and their principals have succeeded in coping efficiently with the new social and cultural makeup of their schools, while others have been struggling and even resigned under the pressures of all the conflicting demands from stakeholders. The theoretical and empirical investigation reported in this paper shows that principals and schools could benefit enormously from learning from the experiences of the more successful schools and their principals