ENDORSEMENTS

As a resident of Ontario for more than two decades I have worked with many community people on various projects addressing equity in the education system, the workplace and the wider community. I have lived in Ward 14 for more than two decades working as support staff (lunchroom supervisor and international languages instructor) at the Toronto District School Board until June 2008. I have volunteered my time to serve as a Board member of Central Neighborhood House (CNH) and I also served as President of CNH. I have also volunteered as a Guider with Girl Guides of Canada during which time I was a Diversity Awareness Trainer with the Guiding Movement. I volunteer at an after four program in St Jamestown where a very dedicated member of our community, Brenda Pierre has volunteered her time to tutor children every week day afternoon for the past ten years.

Brenda Pierre is one of the stalwarts in our community and I am very proud to have her endorsement of my campaign for Ward 14 trustee.

I have included here some of the people who have endorsed my candidacy:

Brenda Pierre, Coordinator of Children's First Youth Educational Program in St Jamestown.

Selwyn Pieters, Human Rights lawyer.

Dr Hazel Campayne, Chair, Justice and Peace Committee of the Women’s Interchurch Council of Canada.

Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Ontario Chapter

Janice Gairey
Human Rights Director, Ontario Federation of Labour
President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Ontario Chapter

Ajamu Nangwaya, Human Rights, Union activist, CUPE 3907

Anna Willats, Community activist

Don Weitz
antipsychiatry and social justice activist
Toronto

Nathan Okonta -
Program Director
National African Integration and Families Association (NAIFA)
www.naifatoronto.ca

Jeff Peters
Member of Governing Council at the University of Toronto

Chris Ramsaroop
Community and Union activist

Vickie McPhee, Human Rights Advocate, Community Activist,
Lead Advocate, Rights Watch Network
guudfyahiyah@yahoo.ca

Richard McKergow, Journalist

I've known Murphy Browne for over a decade. First, as a journalist, I witnessed her courage and expertise in standing up against systemic wrongs within the Toronto District School Board. Most recently I've had the pleasure of working with her at the University of Toronto, and taking her leadership and guidance during campaigns to fight various items within the university's increasingly corporate agenda.
Murphy has the experience, the stamina, and the focus to improve Toronto's school system for our city's youth. She is especially talented at routing out racism and racist policies, however subtle or systemic, within an institution. A fighter like her is especially important in a time when so many "liberal" minded policy makers turn the other cheek and allow decades of gains toward equity to be so quickly eroded in the name of dealing with the economic crisis. She is the right choice to make sure that children from all communities are respected and valued in our school system.
Elect Murphy Browne as Ward 14 School Trustee!

Richard McKergow
Journalist

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Murphy Browne is a dynamic and energetic advocate, a shining light who has been in the forefront of numerous struggles across the Greater Toronto area. Ms. Browne has seen first hand the devastation that budget cuts, program and school closures has had in both our elementary and secondary schools. Murphy is a tireless champion of disadvantaged and marginalized communities, whose perspective is absent from the current board. Whether in the classroom, in the community or at the board, rest assured Murphy is committed to the struggle for racial and economic justice in our communities and in our schools.

Chris Ramsaroop
Community and Union activist

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Endorsement for Murphy Browne Trustee Candidate Ward 14

I am excited that Sistah Murphy Browne is a public school Trustee candidate for Ward 14. I am a Ward 14 community member. Sistah Murphy Browne has my vote.

I have known Murphy Browne for many years. I have fashioned my approach to advocacy on equity issues in public education after her direct style. Over the years I have witnessed Murphy Browne advocate for parents in public education areas at the grassroots to provincial levels. Her commitment to equity for all students and an education system that develops a systemic approach to inclusive and equity-oriented education makes her the right choice for a change in our changing ward.

Murphy Browne brings the experience and expertise to effect change to the education system where change is needed. Vote Murphy Browne October 25th for the change we seek.

Vickie McPhee, Human Rights Advocate, Community Activist,
Lead Advocate, Rights Watch Network
guudfyahiyah@yahoo.ca
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Murphy Browne has been a long standing community social and trade union activist upstanding and committed advocate for children's rights and fair and equal access to quality public education have been two of her main priorities. I endorse her fully and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Ontario Chapter endorses her as well.

Janice Gairey
Human Rights Director, Ontario Federation of Labour
President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Ontario Chapter
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"I enthusiastically support Murphy Browne for Ward 14 School Trustee. She is a dedicated and determined advocate who has been on the front lines of education reform in Toronto for years. Murphy understands the needs of students and parents and will take their concerns forward as trustee. She will be a positive voice for change and equity in the education
system."

Anna Willats, Community activist

http://www.georgebrown.ca/communityservices/about_Anna_Willats.aspx

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I strongly support the election of Murphy Browne as school trustee for Ward 14.
In the several years I have known Murphy, she has been
an outstanding and courageous anti-racist and social justice activist.
Murphy stands up and speaks out for those of us who have been marginalized, discriminated against and stigmatized.
I am proud to endorse her election campaign.
- Don Weitz
antipsychiatry and social justice activist
Toronto

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Murphy,

Congratulations for taking up the challenge to run to become a trustee in Ward 14. Our community and the entire Toronto and Ontario society need your Electoral Win in Ward 14 as we need water and air because your experiences are what is needed now as many of children and youth continue to struggle in the Ontario Educational Systems.... I believe that you are the agent of change we need and the revolution starts now; the revolution to ensure that all students have reasonable chance and opportunity of succeeding.

Nathan Okonta -
Program Director
National African Integration and Families Association (NAIFA)
www.naifatoronto.ca

THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Parent involvement in children’s education allows students to perform better in school and more easily navigate some of the challenges of growing up.

Research shows that family involvement promotes student success. Students with involved parents are more likely to:

• Earn higher grades and pass their classes,
• Attend school regularly and have better social skills,
• Go on to postsecondary education.

When families, schools and communities work together:

• Student achievement improves,
• Teacher morale rises,
• Communication increases,
• Family, school and community connections multiply.

School, family and community are important "spheres of influence" on children's development and a child's educational development is enhanced when these three environments work collaboratively toward shared goals.

Schools can create greater "overlap" between the school, home and community through the implementation of activities across six types of involvement: parenting, communication, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaboration with the community. By implementing activities across all six types of involvement, educators can help improve student achievement and experiences in school.

Students' homes and classrooms are the focal points of their learning experiences—from kindergarten through high school. Parents who work with teachers and students are critical partners in helping their child achieve success.

Parents set the example and the tone for their child's approach to education. When parents are engaged, interested and supportive in their child's learning, the child is more likely to succeed. Bridging the divide between what is learned in the classroom to how it is relevant in day-to-day life is a critical role for parents. It brings meaning to their child's learning experience.

Parents can make learning real and ensure that students understand the importance of achieving. Parental involvement includes a wide range of behaviours but generally refers to parents' and family members' use and investment of resources in their children's schooling. These investments can take place in or outside of school, with the intention of improving children's learning. Parental involvement at home can include activities such as discussions about school, helping with homework, and reading with children. Involvement at school may include parents volunteering in the classroom, attending workshops, or attending school plays and sporting events.

Some researchers have identified three dimensions of parental involvement based on how parent–child interactions affect students' schooling and motivation.
Behavioural involvement refers to parents' public actions representing their interest in their child's education, such as attending an open house or volunteering at the school.
Personal involvement includes parent–child interactions that communicate positive attitudes about school and the importance of education to the child.
Cognitive/intellectual involvement refers to behaviours that promote children's skill development and knowledge, such as reading books and going to museums.
Parental involvement, according to this theory, affects student achievement because these interactions affect students' motivation, their sense of competence, and the belief that they have control over their success in school.

Although all families want their children to succeed in school, not all families have the same resources or opportunities to be involved in their children's education.

Families in which all caregivers work full-time, where there are multiple children, or where English is not spoken or read well face significant barriers to participation in their children's education. It is important for schools to understand the demands that exist on the families of their students and to work to overcome them.

Schools can overcome these challenges by providing opportunities for school-to-home and home-to-school communications with families; providing communications to families in a language and at a reading level all families can understand; ensuring adequate representation of the entire community of parents on school advisory committees; and distributing information provided at workshops to the families who could not attend.

Schools that work to meet these challenges and try to make involvement easier and more convenient for all families will gain support from parents and improve student achievement.

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

QUESTIONS FROM THE TDSB COMMUNITY

RebuildOurSchools.org 2010 Election Questionnaire

RebuildOurSchools.org is an advocacy coalition of parents and other caregivers, students, educators, education workers, education leaders, businesses and other members of the community, working together through our respective organizations and as individuals.
Our mission is to ensure that children in Toronto's public schools are educated in effective learning environments: safe, well-maintained and environmentally sustainable schools.

I. Ontario’s Education Funding Formula

Our position:

RebuildOurSchools.org believes Ontario’s education funding formula is inadequate and urgently needs to be revised by the provincial government. The current formula fails to provide sufficient funding for school boards, including TDSB, to:

Operate and maintain safe, effective learning environments and to pay teachers, administrators and education workers; Provide the range of special supports required to enable all students to succeed; Support local priorities and needs without relying on school-generated revenue; Develop schools as centres of their communities with improved accessibility, utility and benefits; and, Deliver the education our children need to succeed in a knowledge-based economy and in Ontario’s globally-competitive context, including through the provision of facilities appropriate to support needed educational programs.

Our questions:

QUESTION: What strategy and tactics will you use as an individual TDSB trustee to persuade the Ontario government to develop and implement an improved education funding formula?

ANSWER: I would meet with parents and community members to word a petition to be sent to the Premier and the Minister of education. I would encourage the constituents of Ward 14 to write, fax, visit and chat with the MPP to ensure that he understands the damage that has been done to the public education system because of the inadequate funding formula.


QUESTION: What strategy and tactics should the Board use for this purpose?
ANSWER: The Board should meet with the Premier and Minister of Education. Senior staff at the Board should be tasked to prepare a report with the facts and figures to be given to the Ontario government detailing what is needed to ensure that we have a funding formula that is appropriate for the needs of our students.

II. School Renewal Funding

Our position:

RebuildOurSchools.org recognizes TDSB’s school renewal backlog of $2.8 billion as of April 13, 2010, rising to $3.5 billion by 2015. This backlog is the difference between available funding for school renewal and the repair, renovation and reconstruction needs of the Board’s 529 school buildings. We believe this backlog impedes the Board from providing and maintaining safe, effective learning environments. The Ontario government’s Good Places to Learn school renewal program, which provided $413 million to TDSB from 2005-09, was cancelled in the 2010 Ontario Budget.

Our questions:

QUESTION: As an individual TDSB trustee, how will you work to address the school renewal backlog – and specifically, to persuade the Ontario government to restore a school renewal funding program?

ANSWER: The Ontario government must be made to understand that restoring a school renewal funding program is vital to the success of the education system in the province. It may possibly become an election issue.

QUESTION: As an individual TDSB trustee, will you endorse, support and work with RebuildOurSchools.org in our school renewal funding advocacy efforts focused on the Ontario government? ANSWER: Yes. I will work with any organization that has the best interest of all our students at heart.

Our position:

School boards including TDSB are allowed by the province to respond to the inadequacy of the education funding formula by deferring maintenance on a year-by-year basis – that is, they can allow the state of repair of the schools to deteriorate as a cost-saving measure, and apply funds intended to maintain, repair and renew schools to education programs and other operational needs. In 2010, TDSB trustees voted to defer $30 million in maintenance. They deferred $37 million in 2009 and comparable amounts in previous years.

RebuildOurSchools.org is gravely concerned that deferral of maintenance is causing a rapid deterioration in the state of repair of Toronto’s public schools. Putting off maintenance and repair contributes to the school renewal backlog and worsens existing problems, increasing the cost of renewal when eventually undertaken. We believe deferral of maintenance compromises TDSB’s obligation to provide safe, effective learning environments, and threatens the health and safety of students, teachers, education workers and all others in our schools.

Our questions:
QUESTION: As a TDSB trustee, will you support or oppose the deferral of maintenance in the 2011 TDSB Budget? ANSWER: As a TDSB trustee, I would oppose the deferral of maintenance in the 2011 TDSB Budget.


IV. Understanding and Prioritizing Safe, Effective Learning Environments

Our position: RebuildOurSchools.org is concerned that TDSB trustees are not adequately informed about the physical condition of the schools in their wards, the renewal backlog for each individual school, and the impact on the quality of the learning environment. We urge trustees to improve their familiarity with and understanding of the state of repair of the schools in their wards, and to prioritize safe, effective learning environments. We further urge trustees to report regularly to their ward councils and individual school councils on the state of repair and renewal backlog in the schools in their wards.

QUESTION: As a TDSB trustee, will you visit each school in your ward within the first year of your term, and obtain a detailed briefing on the state of repair and renewal backlog of each school building? ANSWER: Yes. I know that it is important for trustees to keep up to date with the state of repair of the schools in their wards to ensure that those schools are safe for students, staff and community members who use the schools.



QUESTION: As a TDSB trustee, will you conduct regular meetings with your ward councils and/or individual school councils and include in these meetings reports, discussion and consultation on the state of repair and renewal backlog in the schools in your ward? ANSWER: Yes. As a former school council representative on Ward council I know how important it is for parents, staff and community to have an opportunity for regular dialogue with the trustee on various issues.

QUESTION: What other initiatives and commitments will you undertake to prioritize and achieve safe, effective learning environments in TDSB schools?
ANSWER: While academic excellence through achievement in literacy, mathematics and the sciences is very important there are other programs like sports, choir/music, drama, visual arts that not only enrich our lives, but which may also be areas where many of our students excel. I would encourage and support the arts, athletics and music to ensure that students receive a well-rounded education. I would also encourage intergenerational interaction especially with our senior citizens and our very young students. Our schools should be community hubs, encouraging the use of schools by groups like Girl Guides of Canada.



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QUESTIONS FROM INSIDETORONTO.COM
QUESTION: Why are you the best candidate for trustee?

ANSWER:I have been involved as an advocate for parents and students at the Toronto Board of Education and the Toronto District School Board for more than 20 years. I have shown leadership as an education activist who co-chaired the Parent Community Network and Campaign for Public Education during the amalgamation and “common sense revolution” of the former Ontario government’s attempt to establish a voucher system that would have diverted resources and students away from the public school system. We strategised and resisted mightily and successfully. I will advocate for sustainable, adequate funding. I need your support on Oct. 25.

QUESTION: What changes would you like to see at the school board in the next four years?

ANSWER:I would advocate for and actively support a change in the funding formula which in its present state is woefully inadequate. The cost of living and the diversity of the population is not uniform across Ontario so the funding formula should not be a one size fits all. I would encourage intergenerational interaction especially with our senior citizens and our very young students. I would also encourage and support the arts, athletics and music to ensure that students receive a well-rounded education. Our schools should be community hubs, encouraging the use of schools by groups like Girl Guides of Canada.

QUESTION: What is your position on the TDSB consolidating under-enrolled schools and selling off closed school properties?
ANSWER:I do not agree with the TDSB shutting down schools and selling the land to developers. The population of Toronto fluctuates because we are an attractive destination for newcomers from other countries as well as people from other provinces. Selling taxpayer-funded land to private developers is short-sighted. Temporarily under-enrolled schools can be used as community neighbourhood hubs, with extra space rented out for other community purposes such as seniors’ centres, daycare and recreation spaces. When the population demographic of a particular area changes; people with school age children will want local neighbourhood schools that are within walking distance.

QUESTION:Do you support the province’s decision to try to negotiate two-year, no wage increase contracts with the school board’s unionized employees when existing agreements expire, including those with the school board’s unionized employees?

ANSWER:No! Workers have a right to collective bargaining. In June 2007 the Supreme Court of Canada extensively reviewed the rationale for regarding collective bargaining as a human right. The Court made several observations; including: The right to bargain collectively with an employer enhances the human dignity, liberty and autonomy of workers by giving them the opportunity to influence the establishment of workplace rules and thereby gain some control over a major aspect of their lives, namely their work. The province should not seek to balance its budget on the backs of working people while reducing taxes for large corporations.


Please provide personal details on your bio.


I have lived in Toronto for more than 20 years and have been involved in advocacy and activism in various spheres including education. I have served as President of the Board of Directors at Central Neighbourhood House (CNH). I worked for the TDSB as an International Languages Instructor and as a member of CUPE 4400 served as Steward Co-ordinator and Steward. I also served as a member of the Board of governors at the University of Toronto. I write a weekly column for Share newspaper and am a programmer at CKLN 88.1FM on Tuesday Word of Mouth and Frequency Feminisms.