St. Patrick's High School (Halifax) - Segregation Controversy

Segregation Controversy

In 2006, St. Pat's African-Canadian Vice Principal Wade Smith stirred up some controversy with his suggestion to establish an Africentric school in Nova Scotia. While the comment was initially an off-the-cuff remark, it was widely debated and generated strong feelings from both sides of the argument. His remark was made under questioning in an interview with CBC News, and reported on by other media outlets. To some, such a move would represent a return to segregation and the Jim Crow laws of the southern United States. Smith has indicated that this would not be the intent, saying that such a school would not exclude other races or ethnicities, but would simply focus on African-Canadian studies. He suggests that a change is needed because the current system is failing black students, many of whom receive low grades and are at increased risk of dropping out of school. He believes that an environment designed to cater to the special needs of African-Canadians would improve these results. Both the Halifax Regional School Board and the Department of Education very quickly dismissed the concept.