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Fighting Antisemitism in Schools
There is an alarming increase within Ontario public schools in antisemitic incidents, discriminatory behaviour, and exclusion of Jewish and Israeli Canadian students, which is often ignored or inadequately addressed by school board administration and staff. Key examples include legitimate complaints of anti-Jewish hate left unaddressed by school principals, divisive student activities, such as walkouts, propaganda displays, and one sided geopolitical fundraisers, and a lack of consistent disciplinary action for educators who participate in geopolitical activism in the classroom and on school premises.
Recommendations:
We therefore recommend that all candidates, if elected, commit to:
- Requiring all school boards to adopt anti-hate policies that foster an environment of inclusion for all.
- Supporting mandatory antisemitism training from an approved government vendor for all trustees and school board staff and educators.
- Mandating school boards to adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism to ensure acts of antisemitism are reported without personal bias.
- Ensuring that all curriculum and resources are approved by government, not individual school boards, and that they are fact-based and balanced to prevent the spread of divisive narratives that could foster antisemitism.
- Implementing strict rules regarding student walkouts, and preventing participation by individuals and groups not affiliated with the school.
- Enforcing accountability in teacher unions to address hateful rhetoric from teachers targeting Jewish students.
- Holding teachers and students accountable who spew hateful rhetoric against Jewish students and make them feel unwelcome.