Gujarati Classes in Scarborough Area - Not good response from School
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Posted on: 06-11-02 12:14:50
Friends,
As you know we have one Gujarati Class running in Woburn Jr. PS. This year there are about 50 students in the waiting list and the school is not doing anything.
So, I wrote an e-mail to Mr. Scott Harrison, Trusty of both the schools Woburn and Bellemere. I also asked my other friends to send e-mail to Scott.
This is what I sent.
Quote:
Dear Sir,
I am writing this with reference to Gujarati Classes started by Woburn Jr. PS last year. Thank you very much for the same. It started with one class last year and we were hoping that this year you will start more classes as there were many students in the waiting list.
This year it started with one class only and the school asked other parents to fill-in application form sand told them that you are in waiting list. Now as there are more than 50 students in the waiting list, I request you to start two more Gujarati Classes.
I always like Toronto's multiculturalism and appreciate Toronto District School boards efforts to give students an opportunity to learn their own language. I noticed that there are many Tamil classes running in the school, and happy to see that, but you should also consider Gujarati as equal important language.
Thanks in advance.
This is the response I got. Basically he is not ready to do anything for Gujarati class and directing us to another school which is very far without any good reason. It seems that he is not ready to take the responsibility.
This is the response.
Quote:
Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to my attention. In speaking with the principle Mrs. Jill Watson at Woburn PS. and to our staff person that looks after the Heritage Language program with in the TDSB, I found that we have many language classes that we look after with in my ward.
As parents across our city use these programs, we like to maximize the class usage with in these schools. However there is another Gujarati program at Henry Kelsey Sr. P.S. located at 1200 Huntingwood dr. and there are spaces available. The parents may take their children to the school on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. and register there. They may be placed immediately into a class or the Site coordinator may decide that she needs to speak to the instructors before placing the students in a class and will let the parents know that they will be called by the instructor during the week and told which class the child has been placed in.
If you need more information or if I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.
Thank you.
Scott Harrison
Scarborough Centre ward 19
Office (416)397-3104
Fax (416)393-8827
Now I have sent him this response. I also request all readers to send similar strong message to him. When there are more than 50 percent students of Gujarati Origin how come they ignore us like this. They are running these classes from our money collected by heavy income Taxes. We must come-up as a community to get our rights. As we see these Tamil peoples are very strong and organized and getting all the good benefits from government. We are not doing anything. We have to wake-up.
This is my reply:
Quote:
Scott,
Thanks a lot for this reply. I appreciate your efforts in this direction and thanks for letting me know that there are few seats available in another school.
However I would like to mention some points:
The students who are in waiting list are studying in nearby schools - Woburn Jr. PS and Bellemere Jr. PS. Majority of them are new immigrants and many does not have good job or even a car. Majority of them are coming from the 7 Apartment Buildings nearby and walk to school. In this case for them it would be difficult to go to a school which is considerably far.
I am not against any of the Tamil classes running in the school, but statistic stand-point there are equal or more Gujarati speaking students in both of the school as compare to Tamil. Having about 11 classes of Tamil and only one of Gujarati is not a good balance. Gujarati speaking students should also get equal opportunities.
Bellemere Jr. PS has got more than 50 percent Gujarati speaking students, and it is not running any International Language Classes, if you can start classes there, it would be great help to the community.
You informed me that there are seats available in another school, but are there seats available enough for about 50 students? If not what are you going to do with the remaining ones?
Sorry for bugging you again, but I always respect Canada's Multiculturalism and I hope you will not disappoint emerging Gujarati Community.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Rashmi.
Please send an email to him at scott.harrison@tdsb.on.ca. His phone number is 416 397 3104, and fax is 416 393 8827.
Please pass this message to other people.
Thanks.
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Torontian Desi
I am writing a strong e-mail to him. Thanks Rashmi.
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Hurat Honani Murat!
I haven't got any reply for him yet.
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Great! keep this up!
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kathiawadi
The New Manager is Denise Keefe - who is in charge of international languages (for toronto district school board)
His phone number is: 416 394 3067
Address:
2 Trethewey Drive, 3rd Floor
Eglinton/Keele
Toronto
Denise is a girl's name, I think.
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Are you there?
May be.
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A Proud Indian Canadian
