Ontario Education Minister Warns Against ‘Political Biases’ in Classrooms Ahead of Hamas Attack Anniversary

Ontario Minister of Education Jill Dunlop is seen at the legislature in Toronto on June 25, 2020. The Canadian Press/Steve Russell-Pool

Ontario’s education minister has issued a warning to the province’s school boards to keep “political biases” out of classrooms ahead of the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel last October.

Minister Jill Dunlop issued a memo issued to boards with regard to Oct. 7, which marks one year since the terrorist attack against Israel, causing the deaths of 1,200 people and resulting in a military conflict in the region.

Dunlop said she wants school boards to “be vigilant in ensuring classrooms remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming for all students and staff.” The memo said it was important as the province has been seeing an increase in racism, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia.

Dunlop said that schools must focus on learning.

“This means our schools and school-related activities should never be used as vehicles for political protests that enable inflammatory, discriminatory, and hateful content,” she wrote.

“While everyone is entitled to their own political opinions, they are not entitled to disseminate political biases into our classrooms.”

The minister’s warning comes after the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) was criticized when videos surfaced showing students who were on a field trip in support of the Grassy Narrows First Nation were encouraged to chant pro-Palestinian mantras.

Premier Doug Ford criticized the school board in an unrelated press conference on Sept. 23, calling the decision to take students on the field trip “disgraceful” and ridiculous.”

Ford said students should be in classrooms learning to read, write, and do arithmetic rather than be taken to pro-Palestinian rallies. He accused the school board or trying to indoctrinate kids.

TDSB said the Sept. 18 field trip was meant to be an “educational experience” and students were expected to hear from indigenous people about how the Grassy Narrows community was impacted by mercury poisoning.

However, social media videos show students taking part in a march with some signs referencing Palestine. Another video shows students in a crowd being told to repeat “Turtle Island to Palestine. Occupation is a crime.”

TDSB issued an apology to parents, saying students should not be involved in protests as part of field trips.

“We apologize for the harm that some students may have experienced as a result,” Acting Director of Education Louise Sirisko said in a statement. “We take these concerns very seriously and will prioritize our investigation into the matter.”

Sirisko said the board would take “appropriate action” if school board policies, procedures or professional standards were not followed. Those actions could include discipline and changes to its field trip processes, she said.

In a Sept. 24 statement, Dunlop said the school board was not moving swiftly enough, and that the Education Ministry will be doing an investigation. She said that those responsible for the incident would be held accountable.

TDSB said in a statement issued the same day that it would cooperate with the investigation. It said the board had launched an investigation within 24 hours of the event.

“As this situation involved students from approximately 15 schools, as well as multiple staff and students, a thorough investigation will take time to conduct and complete,” the statement said.

It said that if it was found that TDSB policies, procedures, or professional standards were not followed, the board would take action, including disciplinary action.

The Canadian Press and Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.