On April 16, 2019 the Peel district School Board issued the an update on the investigation into antisemitic student project at Stephen Lewis Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario:
Director’s statement: Update regarding antisemitic concerns raised over class project
On behalf of the Peel District
School Board, I would like to provide an update on the investigation
into antisemitic materials created and displayed in Stephen Lewis
Secondary School. First and foremost, I would like to reaffirm our
board’s unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism in all of its forms.
We acknowledge and take full responsibility for the profound,
negative impact these materials have caused to many members of the
community, including our students, their families, staff and the
broader Jewish community. I would like to offer a formal apology
to all of those exposed to these hurtful materials. There is no
place in our schools for hatred of any kind and we are committed to
doing better.
The poster displayed in the school as part of
the grade 12 Equity and Social Justice: From Theory to Practice
course contained links to misinformation and constitutes a
disturbing, modern-day, antisemitic blood libel trope. We have
determined that it was not the teacher nor the students’ intention to
promote, what they now understand to be, false allegations. Their
project was unintentionally rooted in falsehoods, is antisemitic and
has been stopped.
Although the intent was to advocate
for the protection of human rights, this project discriminated
against members of the Jewish community by perpetuating antisemitism.
This has no place in our schools or anywhere in Peel Region and
beyond.
We have taken numerous steps to immediately address
this serious matter. The campaign banner has been removed from the
school and associated social media activity has been deleted. We have
investigated its development and are determining measures that we can
put in place to prevent a similar occurrence in future.
While
we cannot comment on specific disciplinary action due to privacy
laws, we can assure our community that appropriate action will be
taken. We know not knowing can be frustrating, but we want to
assure you that, as always, discipline would be aligned with the Peel
board’s Safe Schools Policy #48, with a focus on restoring and
rebuilding relationships.
Our investigation has underscored
the need for our board to strengthen both staff and student knowledge
and awareness of antisemitism. We will ensure that this is a learning
opportunity for the students and staff involved, with the goal of
engaging them constructively and critically to explain the false and
harmful nature of the project’s contents, and the dangerous,
multi-faceted nature of antisemitism. Similarly, we will create an
educational opportunity for the broader student and staff community
at Stephen Lewis Secondary School, with the goals of addressing the
hurt and harm caused by this project and fostering a climate in which
no student feels marginalized or targeted because of their identity.
We have been in conversation with local and national
Jewish organizations, including the Centre for Israel and Jewish
Affairs, and are committed to conducting a training program in
partnership with these organizations. We are thankful to those
who have reached out, with kind hearts, to volunteer to help us
address the gaps in understanding that exist. These faith and
community leaders have been very helpful in providing insights and
support as we plan for this training and resources to address
antisemitism.
As always, our work is guided by a commitment
to equity and inclusion in all we do to support the Peel board
community. We have a responsibility, under the Ontario Human Rights
Code, Education Act, Peel board policy and procedures including the
board’s Safe Schools and Equity and Inclusive Education policies and
a moral obligation to ensure all students and staff feel safe and
included in Peel schools.
While our investigation of the
matter has concluded, this is just the beginning of our work to
ensure such an incident like this never occurs again within any of
our schools and that all students and staff who learn and work in
Peel board schools and work sites feel they are in a safe and
inclusive space.
We are accountable and commit to doing
better. There is no place for hatred, prejudice and discrimination in
our schools.
Peter Joshua
Director of Education