Toronto school for students escaping homophobia
Triange teacher Jeffrey White.
By Karen Mullins
TORONTO – Imagine fearing school because of your sexual orientation- the taunts, the bullies, the physical violence.
In North American there are only two schools that are designed for LGBTQ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) youth. One of those schools, the Triangle Program is in Toronto.
Jeffrey White, the head teacher of the Triangle Program, started as a volunteer and has been teaching at the school for seven years.
He brings to the table a real look at what it’s like to be gay and dealing with homophobia in the school system. Homophobia drove him out of school himself as a teen. While he could have fallen prey to the street White picked himself up.
The school was founded by School Board Trustees John Campey and MP Olivia Chow and school social worker Tony Gambone in 1995.
A Church offered space for the school. From a beginning of ten students the school now has about 45 students.
“We’ve slowly grown, it was a big push for the church and the school to find the funding and now we have these four beautiful classrooms that we can use.”
When the school started there was one classroom type area and a large basement. This winter four classrooms were constructed in the space so that teachers can work out in a class setting.
White said that the school board only provides about $100 a student per year, about $4000 to $6,000 a year to run the program.
The rest of the money needed to run the school is raised by the teachers, about $30,000 a year. Some of that comes from the banks. Parents have given funds and others have helped.
The YMCA also provides space one morning a week for the past three years so the students have physical education. Roughly ninety percent of the students are involved with the program at the Y.
There are three teachers and various student teachers at times. Those three teachers teach all four high school courses. Students also have indecent study. During the afternoons the entire student body is involved in units that also have a LGBTQ focus.
About 90 percent of the students at Triangle fit in the LGBTQ spectrum. In the past there have also been students who are allies of the culture who wanted to be more involved and gain knowledge. Many of these students have found that they were being pushed out of traditional schooling because of homophobia.
Math and Science teacher Anthony Grady, came to the program as an intern four years ago. He said that he loves the school because of the friendships that he has had at the school.
White said one of the biggest challenges of working at Triangle is the fact that the teachers have “so many hats that they have to wear”.
“We’re not only a teacher, but a guidance counsellor, sometimes social worker, sometimes parent, fundraiser, liaison with the community..it’s all of those different responsibilities on top of teaching. You have to be really committed to want to do this type of work.”
Triangle is hoping to grow to 55 students. They would be able to have another full time teacher with that student population. White expressed deserve to have a teacher who would be able to teach the arts, one area that is lacking at the school.
“I know the students would really benefit from an arts program.”
White said that he is thankful to be working in his community and giving back. His own school years make a huge impact on his teaching.
“The kids still come into the same stories as I remember from my school years. It’s just horrible what goes on in almost all of our schools. Often the schools revictimize the victims.”
Graduating students are a victory for the school. The students are leaving high school and going to university.
“It’s great as a teacher when you see your students grow. They are happy people!”
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Posted by Karen J. Mullins
on Apr 28 2010. Filed under Community.
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