Black youth disengaging from Ontario’s educational system : Grounded theory of their educational experiences

[Introduction]: “Canadian school systems and institutions are faced with substantial issues of diversity, as there is a growing conscious realization that these systems and institutions are pervasive with issues of anti-Black racism (Dei, 1997; Ilmi, 2011; Sibblis, 2014; United Nations [UN] Working Group, 2016). Since the 1960s, there have been growing concerns about the many challenges experienced by Black and other minority students in schools in Ontario, Canada (Dei, 2008; James & Turner, 2017; Ruck & Wortley, 2002). For example, racialized students have been labelled with learning disabilities, streamlined into primary and general classes, and shown to experience high levels of disengagement and dropout (James & Turner, 2017; Dei, 2008; McMurtry & Curling, 2008; Anti-Racism Directorate, 2017). Presently, school engagement for young Black people remains a concern (UN Working Group, 2016). This chapter explores the experiences of Black Caribbean students navigating the Ontario educational sector. Our research aims to understand various forms of disciplinary action used against Black young people and how this influences their educational engagement and perceptions.”