AUDIENCE
The film is an uplifting and thought-provoking documentary that will appeal to young and mature audiences alike. It is our intention that the film will resonate beyond the borders of Canada. Global issues of youth education, multi-racial/cultural societies, racial discrimination and marginalization of minority groups are all relevant contemporary social issues. Educators, policy-makers, parents, students and the general public should watch this documentary.
DISTRIBUTION
At 87 minutes, the film is available for purchase in Canada, the USA, Europe and internationally. The film is currently being marketed to the education sector in North America and in international markets. To purchase copies for the education sector, please email: maryc@visualed.com. A shorter version (54 minutes) is available for broadcasters. If you are interested in airing the film as a broadcaster, please feel free to contact the Director at aaron@aaronaweiss.com.
FORMAT AND STYLE
The film was done using interviews with all the major players, computer generated animation, and archival still photos from Canada and the USA. Interviewees included community activists Donna Harrow and Angela Wilson, politicians, trustees of the Toronto District School Board, academics, members of the black community, potential students and parents/grandparents, among others.
SYNOPSIS
Written, Produced and Directed by Aaron A. Weiss.
Labelled segregation by opponents and equal opportunity by supporters, “Our School” is the story of the establishment of Canada’s first State-funded africentric school that divided a city and unleashed a fury of emotions. At the center of the story is the struggle of two women, Donna Harrow and Angela Wilson, to make the school a reality. Years after the Royal Commission on Learning recommended establishing africentric schools, Angela and Donna, looking for solutions to help the youth in their community, decided to set up one such school. The film follows the struggles that Angela and Donna faced in getting approval and public funding for the school including the opposition from the black community, school board trustees and the broader community in Canada.
“Our School” takes you behind the scenes with a no holds barred look at the debate surrounding the establishment of the school. The documentary raises several issues including: how to address the high drop-out rate of black students in public schools and the right of the community to set up publicly-funded alternative schools, as one possible solution. The debate brought forth other issues as to whether the school undermined the multiculturalism ideal of Canada and the North American civil rights movement to de-segregate schools; the experience of black students and parents with the education system; black history and euro-centrism in education; legislation and public policy on education; the role of the media in shaping public opinion on the issue; the right to freedom of speech, among others.
On a broader level, the film takes a look at the underlying issues of discrimination and racism in a newly emerging multi-racial society. The documentary forces us to look at our past and our own prejudices to understand the raison d'être for an africentric school.
