Toronto School Board proposes creation of specialty schools
Posted March 27, 2010 3:19 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – If you are planning on enrolling your children in a public school in Toronto, you may soon have more options.
The Toronto District School Board is considering a plan to open four specialty schools: one for boys, one for girls, a choir school, and a sports academy.
Under the plan, there will be an all-boys leadership academy for boys in kindergarten to grade 3, an all-girls leadership academy for girls in grades 4 to 8, a co-ed choir school and co-ed sports academy for grades 4 to 8.
But John Campbell, trustee of Etobicoke Centre told 680News he is unconvinced there is a need for same-sex schools for young elementary school children.
“I’m not certain that we need to be splitting boys and girls when they’re in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. I think those socialization processes that take place at that age are important in the development of children.”
The former TDSB chair also said the need for a sports or choir school is questionable, because of the possibility of a gender imbalance in the schools as boys are likely to favour sports and girls are likely to prefer choir.
The proposal is being headed by TDSB director Chris Spence, who started similar programs in Hamilton, where he was director until last June.
The program has been very popular in Edmonton, Chicago, and New York.
The proposal for the specialty schools goes before the school board committee Wednesday.
If the plan is supported by the committee, the four schools could open in September 2011.
