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Task 4: What Do I Believe In?

I think that restorative justice is the best policy for schools because it makes everyone more understanding, helps build stronger relationships between the staff and students, and reduces the risk of students repeating their problems. When a student creates a problem and it is addressed using punishments like suspensions or detentions, they don't usually actually help the student understand what they did wrong or how to fix it. Instead of using these punishments, use restorative justice to address a student's bad behaviour. It tackles the actual causes of the problem, creates a more mutually respectful school, and gives students the chance to use their voices.

First, restorative justice helps students take accountability for their actions genuinely. Instead of teachers just telling the students, “You're suspended for a week” or “Detention for 3 weeks,” they can be asked to think about what they did, who they hurt with their actions, why they did that, and how they can fix what they did. For example, if one student bullies another student, using restorative justice, maybe a discussion could take place between the students where the bully hears how the victim felt and reflects on that. Restorative justice does not enable bad behaviour or make their bad behaviour okay; it just helps students to learn how to take accountability. Restorative justice shows students how to make better choices and will help them rethink their actions and apply them to other scenarios. 

Second, connections between students and staff can improve through restorative justice. Students may feel disconnected from their teachers or feel like they are punished unfairly using common disciplines. Everyone can voice their feelings and be heard because of restorative justice, even by just talking. This method can help teachers understand what the students are going through and their motives, and the students will then feel supported by the teachers instead of judged or criticized. These discussions build trust. It is more likely students will respect each other and follow school rules if they are acknowledged and heard.

Third, restorative justice decreases the risk of repeated bad behaviour. While detentions and suspensions temporarily take a student out of class and stop the problem, they are probably not going to result in a change of their behaviour. Suspensions have been linked to students being more likely to drop out and being less likely to graduate, according to research from the Ontario Ministry of Education. The pattern can be broken through restorative justice. It can help students learn how they have to deal with conflict more effectively, which will help immensely in the long run. Schools that use restorative justice will have a more positive school environment with fewer fights and less bullying.

Obviously, there are flaws in restorative justice, as there are in every method. Using this method effectively needs time, training, and commitment from the whole school. Certain situations, like violent behaviour or risks to others' safety, would need different actions taken. But in most cases, restorative justice is a much better and more effective way of addressing more common school issues, like bullying or disruptions in the classroom. It doesn't only reduce bad behaviour but also teaches students how to have better behaviour. Overall, I think restorative justice is the best way for schools to handle issues among students. It helps students learn to take genuine responsibility for the way they behave, can build stronger relationships between the staff and students, and helps decrease the risk of issues in the future. Instead of just punishing students, it helps them grow and learn from their mistakes. Schools should be a place where students learn more than just the subjects they're taking, where they learn more about mutual respect, communicating, and how to fix their mistakes.

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Task 2: What Has Influenced Me?

Living in Toronto which is one of the most diverse cities in the world, I have been surrounded by so many different cultures that have influenced the way I eat, dress, and spend my life! These influences have come from many different areas of the world and have become part of my everyday life. Here are five ways culture has influenced me. 

One of the top cultural influences in my life is food. In my neighbourhood, I can find everything from Indian food, to Chinese food, or Jamaican food! One of my favourite foods is sushi and miso soup which comes from Japan. Another one I love is Indian butter chicken. These different foods have become normal meals I eat many times throughout the year, even though they come from completely different cultures than mine.

Fashion in Toronto is very interesting and influenced by peoples cultures. I often see people wearing clothes inspired by their culture, like saris and hijabs. I really enjoy streetwear which is from hip-hop culture and Japanese fashion. People also like to mix and match different styles from different cultures to express themselves. Cultural fashion has shown me to appreciate different styles and traditions, and respectfully like to incorporate them into my own style. 

The buildings in Toronto show different cultural influences too. In the downtown area, there's fully glass modern skyscrapers next to old European churches, which is super cool to see. I've been to Chinatown and the architecture is more traditional Chinese like how they are in China, designs like curved roofs, dragons, lots of color, and pillars. These different types of buildings make Toronto feel like a mix of so many peoples' different worlds and cultures into one city and always amazes me to see the beautiful buildings from different cultures. 

A lot of my favourite activities actually come from other cultures. I love yoga, which comes from India. I also play soccer, which is popular all around the world, but mostly in Europe and South America. During the summer I go to different festivals, one I went to was Caribana, which is full of Caribbean culture like music, dancing, and food. Events like this make my spare time fun, educational, and give me something to look forward to!

When it comes to entertainment for me, I watch films and TV and listen to music from many different cultures. I've watched my fair share of Anime, which is Japanese. And on the streaming service I use, I’ve watched shows from India, Spain, and France that ended up being really good. This kind of entertainment has shown me various stories from certain cultures, taught me bits from different languages, and film styles. 

In conclusion, everyone's culture is living all around me and has helped me grow, learn, and shape me as a person having influences from all sorts of different places. Between food, fashion, and entertainment, I've learned to really appreciate different backgrounds and traditions as they’ve really influenced me. These cultural differences have made me so much more open minded and I'm really grateful for the diversity around me.

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Task 1: Where Do I Live?

Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world today. Over 51% of people living in Toronto are minorities. The largest groups are: 13% South Asian, 11% Chinese, 9% African, 7% Filipino. As well as 47% of people in Toronto were born outside of Canada. The population is 52% female and 48% male. About 13.5% of people are children, 68% are adults, and 18.5% are seniors.

Toronto has changed a lot over the decades. In the 1970s, most people had a European background. Now, most are from various different cultures. Immigration is the biggest reason for this change. Also, the city has grown, and housing has become way more expensive. Many young adults are moving away because they can’t afford to live here, while older adults who can afford it, stay.

There are some challenges in this city. Housing is very expensive here because there are not enough homes and they are in high demand. Many younger people are leaving to find more affordable places to live in areas outside of Toronto. The aging population means that more seniors need extra health care and support. Diversity is great, but it can also create challenging barriers when people speak different languages or come from different cultures. Some immigrants, even if they are highly qualified, have issues finding jobs, as there are a limited number and lots of people in need of a job.

Although my city is trying to help with these problems. Toronto is currently building more affordable housing and has programs like HousingTO. There are free services for new people in Canada with different backgrounds, like English classes or job training. Transit is also being expanded further to help people get around easier and more affordably. Toronto also has many cultures being celebrated through events like Caribana and Pride events and festivals. There are also programs and housing to support seniors.

In conclusion, Toronto is a rapidly growing and diverse city with many strengths, but it also faces challenges and weaknesses like high housing costs, an aging population, and cultural barriers. The city is working to improve these issues through housing programs, transit, and support services for newcomers and seniors. With consistent effort, these projects will make a difference and Toronto can become an even better place for everyone to live.