PARENTAL PROTEST

TDSB under fire over field trip to anti-Israel rally

The Toronto District School Board is reviewing its field trip policy after parents were outraged over middle school students participating in a “field trip” at a downtown Toronto political protest that devolved into an anti-Israel demonstration.

In an email to parents sent early last week, last Wednesday’s protest at Grange Park was to support Grassy Narrows First Nation’s decades-long struggle with a devastating mercury contamination by an area industry.

A larger protest also took place at Queen’s Park.

The field trip was billed as an “educational opportunity… to learn about Indigenous activism, environmental justice and human rights.”

Mel, a parent of a child whose class participated in last Wednesday’s protest, said parents first got wind of it via a call for parental volunteers.

“We flagged it to teachers, the superintendent, principal and trustees,” Mel said, adding that she didn’t allow her child to attend. “But they proceeded anyway.”

While learning about Indigenous issues is vital, she said, she questioned the wisdom of bringing middle-school students to a protest.

“Why not do it in a controlled environment where it’s a two way dialog, so kids can engage and ask questions,” Mel said. “Teach kids how to think, not impose views upon them. I’d like to know how much the kids know about Grassy Narrows. They should know about Grassy Narrows.”

Despite the letter insisting students would only observe the event, video post on social media depicted school-aged children marching alongside protesters.

Parent Maya Fitzpatrick said children as young as 11 shouldn’t give up classroom time to attend political rallies.

“I fully support Indigenous rights and issues, and I believe there are better ways to educate students on this matter than what transpired on this so-called ‘field trip,’ Fitzpatrick said.

There’s no room for two way dialogue, and the potential for safety risks is high.

She was also concerned about how the rally quickly diverged away from Grassy Narrows.

Videos obtained, depict organizers leading chants like “from Turtle Island for Palestine, occupation is a crime,” with school children holding signs and chanting along.

Other footage showed students marching alongside flag waving Elementary Teachers of Toronto members, while a masked woman in a white “Justice for Grassy Narrows” shirt shouted anti-Israel chants into a megaphone.

That earned condemnation from Idit Shamir, council-general of Toronto’s Israeli consulate.

“The TDSB has crossed a line,” she wrote on X. “Children get sent to school to learn – they should never be forced to participate in political protests.”