Immigrants' Views on Schooling

Notes from Inspired and Engaged Citizens Canadian Muslims Conference, Hamilton November 14 2009.

Feed back from Muslim parents at Education session

Lot of Concern about whether to educate students in Private Muslim schools or the Public School System.

Those who spoke in favour of private schools mentioned:

• Can be sure that the school reflects the values of the  family
• Most of the students are middle class
• Language, culture and identity will be promoted
• Parents feel  they are part of a school community where they can belong
• Link to academic programs: International baccalaureate and Advanced placement were mentioned.
• Prayers are held and Muslim identity nurtured

Those who spoke in favour of the public school system mentioned:

• Some are products of the public school system, or their children are, and they have done well
• The private system is siloed; students do not meet a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds which is part of being Canadian
• Instruction is weaker and there are less resources
• The Muslim community should be putting the energy they are using for promoting Private schools into working with the Public schools
• It is important to be engaged with the public schools, to get to know the teachers and principals, and to attend school events.

What parents would like to see in the public school system.

• High academic standards: Many of the parents were highly educated, and had held academic positions in their own countries. They have a strong desire to be involved in their children’s education and to support them. These parents want
• To know what will be taught each week to their child so they can go over the concepts with their  elementary children; they suggested this could be placed on the school web site or in the agenda
• Access to textbooks used in the classes (elementary and secondary). I f one cannot be sent home from school then they would like to know how to buy the book or be able to lend it from the public library.
• They want their children to have homework regularly
• They would like to know the results of tests their children have sat.

• They want more schools to offer time for prayers in the school day.
• They want teaching about Islamic traditions in the schools.

• They would like HWDSB to tap into volunteers who speak the children’s first language and use them in the schools. Several told me there would be women who would be willing to do this.

• Sex education: although parents  know they can withdraw their children from a class where  a topic is being discussed or a film being shown of which they do not approve, they still have difficulties:
• Some schools request that the child be removed form the school completely, but parents are at work and cannot come to pick their child up
• Children gather information from the discussion of the other students in the class afterwards, or at break
• Their children are curious to know what they have missed
• There is no tradition about speaking to children about sexual matters, and so parents are at a loss how to do this.

• Some confusion about ELL teaching:
• Concern about those children coming from war torn countries who have had no education, and their need for special programming
• A parent felt that children were missing out on science and history in the elementary schools as the emphasis was so much on learning English
• There was some feeling that children should not be assigned classes based on their age but on where they had reached in their education.

• Education in the Early Years: would like programs where parents are trained how to help their children.

 Judith Bishop November 2009