A New Pair of Sneakers

There’s soft sand sinking under my feet,

as I leave little footsteps by the sea.

The water comes crashing and they all disappear,

I wonder how many footsteps have been swallowed by the dark sea.

Before they got to stomp, tiptoe, or creak.

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When I was a little child, my dad never answered questions on my behalf. Even if an adult asked a question I didn’t understand, he told me to “find an answer”. I was lucky to have parents who pushed me, who wanted me to use a gift I was given, to use my voice. I’ve realized now how important it is for children to express themselves with the one tool they do possess. To express themselves with their voices through public speaking and spoken word, two things I have always admired.

After entering high school, I became so passionate about playing an active role in the healthy development of children and youth. I wanted them to feel empowered and be able express themselves even at a young age. Trust me, it’s not easy to understand kids. I’ve been trying to understand how they work for a while now…

I began volunteering at a public school in a grade 5 French classroom. On my first day, I introduced myself en français and I mentioned that I love science. An hour later as I was walking through the rows of desks, I heard a little voice say, “Miss why don’t bunnies get along with cats?” I turned around and saw a boy with curly hair tilting his head and waiting for an answer…

Kids amaze me. Schools don’t give them enough credit for their continuous curiosity.

The “grownups” in our society have a big effect on the lives of children. Recently in Mississauga, there have been many cuts made in education by Doug Ford. Some of these cuts include a decrease in school funds, bigger classrooms, digitalized courses, and unpaid extracurricular clubs. Obviously, teachers and parents did not support these changes. They began striking for a different plan of action. But when students protested, where they heard? Did they truly have a say?

In a recent news article, How will The Ontario teachers’ strike affects student learning,

published in Global news Daina Goldfinger discusses how these strikes and decisions are affecting students’ lives in many ways. It may seem as though students aren’t really being affected in the short term but “education experts say it’s important to look at the long-term consequences that the unions’ job actions will have.” (Goldfinger 2020) Global news conducts an interview with grade 11 student, Megan Garzon who is the co-head of student union and who gives us an overview of the student perspective. Megan explains that many clubs did not run this year because teachers had to stand with their union. She explains that

classroom lessons are being combined into a single class and students aren’t understanding the information fully. Students are seeing both sides of the situation, they can see both perspectives, but seniors are very stressed because they are missing lots of material. Megan states that students aren’t “really sure what’s happening behind the tables”. Overall, students do not seem to be benefitting from the large class sizes as Megan states that in her chemistry class there aren’t enough spots for all students.

With such huge classroom sizes, it makes it even more difficult for teachers to care for every individual. It makes it very challenging to “acknowledge and affirm differences and tailor their teaching to the specifics of their student population” as stated in the article A Theory of Anti-oppressive education. (Kumashiro 2000)

In a city as diverse as Mississauga, children’s differences can help them grow together “to ensure that not a single student is, as one student put it, ‘sinking in spirit and ready to quit this incredible task’” (Kumashiro 2000) Diversity in classrooms can help students learns

about culture, language, and students can share their life experiences from an array of corners in the world. This is what makes Canada’s mosaic so special, we embrace our differences and use them for empowerment and strength. The city I was so lucky to grow up in, Mississauga, is bursting with diversity.

This is why we need students to speak up, to tell their stories and share their experiences in order to use their curiosity and distinct ideas to find solutions. However, it’s not easy for children to be heard. They may cry and shout at the top of their lungs but still be unnoticed. I believe that a safe online platform should be created for kids to share their opinions, to spread their ideas through literary arts.

They simply have to be given the tools, given the practice, given the sneakers they need. Through spoken word and public speaking, children can reach “the grown-up world” and show how big of a shoe print they can leave with their imagination and ideas.

There is no denying that our socio-culture has a hidden curriculum. (Brym 2020) A series of interactions and concepts that are taught to children unintentionally at schools. These concepts teach children what society expects of them and can sometimes favour non-minority students. If a teacher does not give special attention to an immigrant child who cannot read, the student will lose their motivation and stop caring about school. This can create a self-fulfilling prophecy in which society already places that minority in. The only way that children can truly shape their own futures is when they can see these patterns and stand up for themselves. When they can express themselves creatively and use their curiosity as a breeding ground for new ideas.

People constantly say that one day they’ll make a difference… One day. Why can’t we give children a chance to make a difference NOW. Their lives don’t begin when they grow up or find their careers. They have already begun.

Whether it’s Sketchers, Nike, Converse, or Keds… It’s time to buy every child a pair of new sneakers.

Written by: Fatima Tasabehji 01/31/2020

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Sources

Brym, R. J. (2020). Soc . Toronto: Nelson Education.

Goldfinger, D. (2020, January 30). How will the Ontario teachers' strikes affect students' learning? Experts weigh in. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/6485923/ontario-teachers-strikes-effects-experts/

Kumashiro, K. K. (n.d.). Toward a Theory of Anti-Oppressive Education - Kevin K. Kumashiro, 2000. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/00346543070001025