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Vancouver Sun
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
'No more TikTok teaching': Jewish advocacy group calls for Ontario classrooms to be free of identity politics
A Jewish advocacy group released a report on Monday with recommendations to depoliticize Ontario classrooms. It called on the ministry of education to build a curriculum based on achievement, rather than identity. The report from Jewish Educators and Families Association of Canada (JEFA) comes after recent data from a survey commissioned by the Office of the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism found that Ontario students were targeted by hundreds of antisemitic incidents . Speaking in downtown Toronto on Monday, JEFA co-founder Tamara Gottlieb said that Ontario's education system has lost its morals and its academic purpose, adding that this isn't 'only a Jewish concern.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The same policies that have made Jewish students feel unsafe have also created inhospitable environments for Hindu, Christian and Asian students, she said, adding that the human rights department at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trains staff on 'who qualifies as an oppressor,' singling out Christians. The TDSB did not immediately respond to National Post's request for comment. 'We discovered a system that has replaced reading, writing and arithmetic with politicized content, union-driven equity agendas and identity based labeling,' she said. 'When we hear the word equity, we think it means equality. But it doesn't. Equity is defined this way in school board policies as guaranteed outcome — not guaranteed opportunity.' According to the TDSB's own multi-year strategic plan , equity is its 'guiding principle.' The JEFA report, entitled End the crisis in education: A plan for equal rights and real learning, says that antisemitism is a 'flashing warning sign' of the education system's dysfunction. Antisemitism is not simply occurring in Ontario schools; it's being tolerated, said Gottlieb. Amid the myriad concerns, Gottlieb said that Ontario school board trustees, teachers and parents are 'muzzled' because code of conduct policies are 'weaponized' against them. Trustees are intended to give 'parents and local communities a meaningful voice,' per the report, but over time, they have become 'increasingly centralized and bureaucratic.' 'They are actually precluded from speaking publicly about any concerns in the system and precluded from speaking privately with parents who come to them,' said Gottlieb. As a solution, the report says there should be a requirement of governance qualifications for school board leadership. Similarly, Gottlieb said that teachers 'can't actually speak up publicly when they have concerns…but at the same time, they have absolute professional discretion in their classes to use whatever resources they want.' One example given by Gottlieb included a Grade 6 teacher who was part of the TDSB — the largest school board in Canada and one of 72 in Ontario — wearing a keffiyeh to class right after October 7, when Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 Israelis, sparking an ongoing war in the Middle East. The teacher showed students videos from Al Jazeera — a publication that has a 'close connection' with Hamas, a Tel Aviv District Court found last year — about the Nakba as content for mandatory Holocaust education and had a Free Palestine poster with a QR code to donate funds to an 'ambiguous charity.' (The Nakba refers to the displacement of Arab Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, per the Times of Israel .) That teacher faced no consequences. The province should step in to enforce rules that affect thousands of students, said Gottlieb, like clarifying the ambiguity surrounding what constitutes a religious or political garment. Teachers donning keffiyehs at school has become a point of contention among anti-Israel groups and the Jewish community in Canada. Keffiyehs are now considered by many a symbol 'associated with the annihilation of a people,' said Gottlieb, adding that they have been 'codified' as cultural attire 'with zero historical basis.' 'The minister has to step in and unify these policies,' she said, 'so that your kid has the same rights in one board than they will in another board.' Gottlieb also pushed for centralized resources for teachers and called for an end to 'TikTok teaching.' 'Yes, the Ontario government has the Trillium List of approved textbooks , but it's 2025. When's the last time any of your kids came home with a textbook? They don't. Textbooks aren't being used, so having an approved list of textbooks is moot,' said Gottlieb. 'What we need are all teaching or learning resources in the classroom to be centrally made by the ministry, to be approved, for teachers to be trained on how to use those materials, and then for them to exclusively use those materials.' The JEFA report recommends that teachers be licensed directly by the ministry of education, rather than the current model, where teachers are licensed by the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT). It also includes recommendations for the entire education system, from the ministry of education to the school boards, the OCT, faculties of education (responsible for training future teachers) and the teachers' union. 'JEFA's message is simple. Let schools be schools. Let's teach the basics,' she said. The group has written to Ontario's Minister of Education Paul Calandra, urging him to read the report and make changes. In an emailed statement to National Post on Monday, the minister's spokesperson Justine Teplycky said: 'Discrimination and racism in all its forms have no place in our classrooms. Parents expect schools to keep divisive politics out of the classroom and instead focus on what matters most: teaching students reading, writing, and math skills to prepare them for good-paying jobs and lifelong success.' Teplycky confirmed that the minister has received the report and will review it. 'If Ontario can find the courage to make these changes, our schools can once again be places where every child feels safe and where the measure of success is achievement, not ideology,' said Gottlieb. 'We need equal rights for all students. Jewish students can't afford to wait.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Global News
5 days ago
- General
- Global News
Beloved Toronto principal to remain at school after students protest planned transfer
A beloved Toronto school principal whose planned transfer students protested will remain where he is, a school board superintendent says. Barrie Sketchley, the principal of Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, will retire at the school he founded 33 years ago next June, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Supt. Jennifer Chan said in a letter to the school community Tuesday. 'Based on direction from the Supervisor appointed at the TDSB by the Minister of Education, the decision has been made for Principal Sketchley to remain at Rosedale Heights for the 2025-26 school year until his retirement in June 2026,' Chan wrote. 'With over 30 years of dedicated service to Rosedale Heights, Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership.' Story continues below advertisement In June, Sketchley's high school students walked out of class in protest after the board sent a letter indicating he would be moving schools due to a series of principal and vice-principal promotions and transfers. View image in full screen Students at the Rosedale Heights School of the Arts walked out of class on June 12, 2025, in protest of the Toronto District School Board's decision to transfer long-serving Principal Barrie Sketchley. Photo By Megan King / Global News Sketchley, 82, built the school into one of Toronto's most inclusive and creative high schools, parents opposing his move wrote in a letter at the time. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy They claimed a policy that allows parents to participate in the decision of principal transfers was not followed, and were told by the school's advisory council to reach out to Education Minister Paul Calandra if they were concerned. Katrina Matheson, chair of the advisory council, said in a letter Tuesday that the reversal is a 'win-win' for everyone involved. 'Principal Sketchley's remarkable dedication and leadership have shaped the spirit and success of RHSA for over 30 years. His return ensures continuity, stability, and the kind of thoughtful leadership that has made Rosedale a place where creativity, inclusivity, and student growth thrive,' Matheson wrote. Story continues below advertisement 'We know that this team will guide RHSA through a year filled with learning, inspiration, and celebration. Most importantly, this decision recognizes what matters most: our students. Their voices were heard, and their best interests remain at the heart of this decision.' — with files from Sawyer Bogdan and Megan King
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read.
CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read. WATCH | Students, parents rally to keep beloved principal from moving schools: 'We do not want him to go': Toronto students rally to reinstate principal 2 months ago Students at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts staged a walkout in support of their principal. CBC's Clara Pasieka explains why. While it is not policy, it is longtime practice for principals and vice principals to be moved or rotated every five or so years.
