Almost a year after the Hamas attack on Israel shook the Middle East and prompted a conflict that continues to reverberate around the world, the Ontario government is giving school boards strict instructions on how to mark the anniversary of Oct. 7.
A memo sent to school boards across the province, obtained by Global News, warns that the government will be paying close attention to how educators handle the one-year anniversary and how schools deal with the continuing rise in intolerance.
“As we approach one year since the October 7th attack, we ask all school boards across the province to uphold this principle and be vigilant in ensuring classrooms remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming for all students and staff,” Minister of Education Jill Dunlop wrote in a note to school boards.
The memo instructs school boards to focus on learning and includes a stern warning about the minister’s “expectation” in provincial classrooms about the nature of any discussions …