Ford government warns schools to watch ‘political bias’ ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary

Almost a twelvemonth aft nan Hamas onslaught connected Israel shook nan Middle East and prompted a conflict that continues to resound astir nan world, nan Ontario authorities is giving schoolhouse boards strict instructions connected really to people nan day of Oct. 7.

A memo sent to schoolhouse boards crossed nan province, obtained by Global News, warns that nan authorities will beryllium paying adjacent attraction to really educators grip nan one-year day and really schools woody pinch nan continuing emergence successful intolerance.

“As we attack 1 twelvemonth since nan October 7th attack, we inquire each schoolhouse boards crossed nan state to uphold this rule and beryllium vigilant successful ensuring classrooms stay safe, inclusive, and welcoming for each students and staff,” Minister of Education Jill Dunlop wrote successful a statement to schoolhouse boards.

The memo instructs schoolhouse boards to attraction connected learning and includes a stern informing astir nan minister’s “expectation” successful provincial classrooms astir nan quality of immoderate discussions astir world events.

“Our schools and school-related activities should ne'er beryllium utilized arsenic vehicles for governmental protests that alteration inflammatory, discriminatory, and hateful content,” Dunlop said successful nan memo.

“While everyone is entitled to their ain governmental opinions, they are not entitled to disseminate governmental biases into our classroom,” nan memo said.

The ministerial memo comes amid an ongoing contention astatine nan Toronto District School Board aft a people travel to be a objection drew criticism.

Ontario’s acquisition curate has asked for an investigation into a now arguable Toronto section travel that saw students progressive pinch a downtown protest.

Dunlop ordered a probe into past Wednesday’s section travel to be nan time of action for Grassy Narrows First Nation and nan TDSB said it has launched its ain investigation.

Some parents and different groups, however, complained nan travel veered distant from acquisition and into protestation and activism.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford blasted nan committee for nan measurement nan travel played retired — and accused immoderate educators of readying to “indoctrinate” students.

“I deliberation it’s disgraceful — you’re trying to indoctrinate our kids,” he said, claiming nan protestation had been a “Palestine rally” successful Toronto.

Dunlop’s memo, sent connected Thursday, said nan state is experiencing a “distressing emergence successful intolerance, racism, antisemitism, and Islamaphobia crossed Ontario, including our schools” and asked boards to create “safe spaces for students and staff.”

“It is my anticipation that each schoolhouse committee will clasp itself accountable to nan highest standards nether Ontario’s Code of Conduct and govern pinch respect, civility and responsible citizenship to guarantee schools are free of favoritism and harassment successful each area of nan province,” nan memo reads.