Question 4 – Zone 11 Response
Contents
The Question in brief
Response from:
– Travis Croken
The Question in Brief
In your opinion, is equitable, inclusive education important? Why or why not?
Travis Croken
Yes, I do believe that equitable, inclusive education is essential. One of the primary roles of a school system is to raise educated, well-rounded, civic-minded citizens. Each child deserves equal and prompt access to resources and programs. When we work to bring equality to our schools, when we consider the backgrounds and life experiences of different students, and when we allow all children to see themselves represented in positions of authority, we begin to build stronger connections and better engagement with students. We must continue to do our utmost to show children that they are important, capable, and have unlimited potential; the only way we can achieve this is by focusing on unity and inclusive education models.
I have demonstrated my commitment to inclusive and equitable education by committing to holding monthly round-tables to rotate through the different communities in the zone. I will work with residents of the zone to ensure they understand what is happening at the board and how it impacts their communities, and children. I will work with communities to ensure they know how to advocate for themselves; when more community members understand how to use their voice, and share their diverse views, our education system benefits.
Yes, I would vote in favour of an initiative similar to the DDSB’s Equity and Diversity Framework.
A practical step would be to enforce the data collection programs of visible minority students and focus on their exit outcomes. We need to see the statistics on suspensions, disciplinary actions, scores, and other pertinent data to ensure we are offering the best education we can to all students.
Yes, I believe that alternative methods of education can play a role in promoting equality and inclusion. When we use innovative and new teaching methods, we can reach more students. I believe the future of education needs to be dynamic and work more to keep pace with the changing times.