吃瓜黑料网

Dear Minister Calandra, 

On behalf of 吃瓜黑料网 Trustees, I am writing to request your support in advancing the promotion of human rights and fulfilling our shared responsibility to create safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for every student. Specifically, we are calling on the Ministry of Education to develop two mandatory professional development series for Trustees and senior school board leaders: one focused on addressing antisemitism in schools, and one on the erasure of Palestinians in school life. 

As outlined in the 吃瓜黑料网 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, equity is a guiding principle that continues to shape and inform all aspects of our work. Our Human Rights Policy affirms our obligation to proactively identify, address, and prevent all forms of discrimination, including systemic and individual forms. However, indicate that more must be done to meet these obligations. 

In the 2023–24 吃瓜黑料网 school year, human rights complaints based on creed doubled compared to the previous year. Reports submitted through the Reporting Bias and Hate (RBH) portal show that incidents related to creed or religion accounted for approximately 20 per cent of all reported incidents. Antisemitism was the most frequently reported at 14.5 per cent, followed by Islamophobia at 4.7 per cent. While incidents of anti-Palestinian racism are not explicitly tracked in the current version of the RBH portal, they are being expressed by school communities through other channels and may be captured under broader categories.  

The underscores the importance of fostering learning environments where students of all identities feel welcomed, supported, and free from discrimination. Yet, findings from the Ministry’s recent review of the 吃瓜黑料网’s Excursion Policy and Procedures revealed concerns about the erasure of Palestinian identity and experiences in school settings. The recommended professional development for Trustees and senior leaders on both antisemitism and Palestinian erasure. 

These professional development opportunities, focused on confronting antisemitism and addressing the unique challenges faced by Palestinians in school settings, would provide essential support to students and education leaders as they navigate complex and sensitive issues related to identity, discrimination, and inclusion. To ensure authenticity and meaningful impact, this mandatory professional learning series should be developed in close collaboration with relevant community stakeholders. Such an approach would not only enhance the capacity of school board leadership but also reaffirm the province’s broader commitment to equity, human rights, and inclusive education as outlined in the . 

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. The full motion from the May 21 Board Meeting can be found below.  

We look forward to working collaboratively with the Ministry to ensure that all students and staff in Ontario schools feel seen and valued. 

Sincerely, 

Neethan Shan 
Chair, 吃瓜黑料网 

Business Arising: Advancing Promotion of Human Rights and Positive Human Rights Obligations 

The Board decided: 

Whereas, the 吃瓜黑料网’s Human Rights policy upholds objectives to protect, promote and advance the human rights of all 吃瓜黑料网 members; and to meet its positive human rights obligations, including to proactively identify, address and prevent all forms of discrimination, including individual and systemic discrimination; and 

Whereas, human rights complaints based on creed doubled in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23; and 

Whereas, in 2023-24, incidents reported in the RBH portal based on creed/religion accounted for approximately 20% of all reported incidents with Antisemitism reported the most frequently at 14.5% followed by Islamophobia (4.7%); and 

Whereas, incidents of anti-Palestinian racism are not explicitly named or recorded in the RBH portal, but may be captured under other categories of the portal,  and expressed by school communities through other means; and  

Whereas, the Accepting Schools Act of Ontario, emphasizes the importance of safe, inclusive, and accepting learning environments where students of all identities are welcomed and supported and are free from discrimination based on place of origin, culture, or creed as defined in the 17 protected categories of the Ontario Human Rights Code; and  

Whereas, professional development in the areas of antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism would support senior staff in meeting obligations and responding to incidents of racism, hate and bias; and 

Whereas, the final report on the review of the 吃瓜黑料网’s Excursion policy and procedures, shares that over the course of the review, the investigator heard that there is human rights-based erasure of the Palestinians’ existence in and outside of schools; and 

Whereas, the final report on the review of the 吃瓜黑料网’s excursions policy and procedure makes recommendations for professional development on both antisemitism and Palestinian erasure in schools, for trustees and senior leaders; 

Therefore, be it resolved:  

1. That the Chair of the Board write to the Ministry of Education requesting they develop two, mandatory three-part professional development series for all trustees and senior board leaders on addressing and facilitating conversations on antisemitism in schools, and on the erasure of Palestinians in school life. Both these series must be developed in collaboration with relevant community groups;   

2. That the timeline to address Anti-Palestinian Racism in the anti-racism and anti-hate strategy of the Board be moved up, and for the strategy work plan to come to Board for approval by October 2025