Legal Aid Ontario lends support to black youth facing suspension from school

Legal Aid Ontario, the non-profit group of lawyers that specializes in representing low-income clients,is providing a major financial boost to a program designed to help black students who are in conflict with the education system.

The one-time grant of $100,000 will fund an initiative run byTAIBUCommunity Health Centre inScarboroughand theRexdaleCommunity Health Centre. It's set toprovide legal representation, advocacy or counselto youth in trouble at school, specifically if they are suspended or expelled.

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"Thisis an important area for usto get into," said David Field, the president of Legal Aid Ontario, adding thathis client base includesmany racialized individuals.

At a Tuesday news conference,Field flagged troublingToronto District School Board datathat revealedalmost half of TDSB students expelled over last 5 years are black.

"It was really necessary for Legal Aid to look at the impact on youth with their initial contact with the law," he said.

The idea is that expulsion sends youth spiraling into the the criminal justice system and if they don't know their rights at disciplinary hearings, they're denied a fair chance at prosperity.

One grant, big picture change

"Let me just say it out frontthatracializedyouth face challenges within our system,"said Ontario Minister of EducationMitzieHunter as she addressed an audience of community leaders at TAIBU.

She described the grant as a big help in hergovernment's crusade against systemic racism in schools and other sectorswithOntario's three-year anti-racism strategy.

When politicians put money in a system that's already broken ...it's not going to do much.- ArththyValluvan,TAIBUCommunity Health Centre

"We have to actually fix the system at its source. We will be working to reduce the achievement gap between black students and all students in the education system," she said.

The 'stay in school' struggle

Caleb Innocent, a high school seniorfromBowmanville, Ont., said it's easy to slip into a bad crowd because of peer pressure and some teachers who don't care to intervene.

"Teachers aren't engaging with the students anymore, not engaging with the minorities, trying to teach them where they should be going," he said.

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TAIBU volunteer ArththyValluvansaid Legal Aid Ontario is doing the right thing by injecting the funds into the community centre's program.

"When politicians put money into a system that's already broken, of course it's not going to do much," she said.

"When you put the money into a community centre that exists for the purpose of helpingthe black community, that makes all the difference."

Know your rights

According to Legal Aid Ontario, atboth suspension and expulsion hearings, the student has a right to:

• Present their account of what happened.
• Have a lawyer present.
• Call witnesses.
• Cross-examine witnesses.