GUELPH – Some parents are concerned about the prevalence of anti-Palestinian racism at Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) schools.
That’s according to an open letter, signed by more than 100 parents, calling on UGDSB executives and trustees “to take a stronger stand against anti-Palestinian racism and to uphold the values of human rights, equity and justice.”
The letter urges the board to take the following steps:
– include anti-Palestinian racism in its equity policy;
– publicly affirm that students and staff will not be punished for supporting Palestinian rights or criticizing the state of Israel;
– offer educational resources and training related to Palestinian human rights and anti-Palestinian racism;
– end collaborations with groups that perpetuate anti-Palestinian racism, harass students and staff, target progressive Jewish voices or push for curbs on civil liberties;
– build collaborations with organizations that teach that Jewish identity is not inherently linked to Israel and recognize diversity within Jewish populations; and
– acknowledge harm done to Palestinian families by … the continued silence of the UGDSB during what the United Nations has called “unparalleled and unprecedented” killing of civilians that is leading Gaza to become “a graveyard for children.”
UGDSB Parents for Palestine is presenting a public forum about “the issues facing students, community responses and the trajectory moving forward to ensure all students have access to a safe, humanizing education.”
The event, called “Addressing Anti-Palestinian Racism in Our Schools,” will take place on May 4 at 10C (42 Carden St., Guelph) at 12pm.
It will feature Palestinian families, Independent Jewish Voices, Guelph 4 Palestine and the UGDSB Black Parents Council.
To register for the free event visit tinyurl.com/4z7u2sxw.
In a press release about the open letter, parents state “our children deserve an education that is grounded in truth, justice and respect for all communities.
“By failing to acknowledge the suffering of Palestinians and suppressing discussions about their rights, the board is failing its duty to uphold equity and justice.”
In 2024, 132 high school students signed a letter to the board urging them to stop silencing students and staff, to create safe space for Palestinian students and to acknowledge that a genocide is occurring and Palestinians are being ethnically cleansed.
According to the press release about the recent letter, the school board has not responded to those students.
UGDSB officials did not address the letter’s specific allegations or recommendations, but said the board “is committed to upholding environments of dignity, safety, and human rights for all students, families, educators, and staff,” in an emailed statement to the Advertiser.
“Grounded in principles of the Ontario Human Rights code, UGDSB’s approach demands that we recognize the importance of individual identities and the influence of systemic issues that perpetuate harm,” officials continued.
They pointed to their plans for an independent, third-party review, “which will seek to identify systemic barriers and promote equitable learning and working environments.” Students, staff, parents and caregivers will be invited to give feedback during the review, UGDSB officials state.
To read the recent open letter, visit tinyurl.com/3utxw7fj.
