Jewish teachers file human rights claims against Ontario school boards, unions - Toronto Star

The group's lawyer says that when the teachers reported antisemitism, their employers and their unions failed to take meaningful action.

A dozen teachers have filed a slew of allegations against four Ontario school boards and three teachers’ unions.

A dozen Ontario Jewish teachers have filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, alleging discrimination by their employers and unions.

The group’s lawyer says that when the teachers reported antisemitism, their employers and their unions failed to take meaningful action.

The teachers make allegations against four Ontario school boards and three teachers’ unions. 

One teacher accuses the Toronto District School Board of failing to investigate after a swastika was drawn on a desk in her classroom. A Simcoe County District School Board teacher, meanwhile, alleges he watched a student go unpunished after drawing a swastika on a chart in the classroom, and that another student was singing a Hitler-related anthem at recess.

One Toronto teacher said that during a union meeting she attempted to speak in support of the inclusion of mainstream Jewish organizations and to raise concerns about antisemitism affecting Jewish educators, but that she was met with hostility and publicly reprimanded.

The unions and boards will now have an opportunity to prepare a written response to the allegations.

“Antisemitism has become a massive problem in Canada and particularly in Toronto and Ontario,” said Kathryn Marshall, the lawyer representing the claimants. “Teachers are living in fear.”

Marshall added, “The unions and the school boards who are supposed to be protecting them and making sure they’re safe and can do their job are failing them.”

The Star has reached out to all school boards and unions named as claimants for comment.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and the Ottawa-Carleton Elementary Teachers’ Federation both responded and declined to comment on legal matters, including those in front of the Tribunal.

Toronto District School Board spokesperson Ryan Bird declined to comment on the claims, adding that the board will respond to the specific allegations through the tribunal process.

“All allegations of antisemitism and other forms of hate brought to the Board’s attention are thoroughly investigated and addressed,” Bird said, adding that “antisemitism has no place in our communities or schools.”

Christina Choo-Hum, a spokesperson for the York Region District School Board, said the board is unable to comment in order “to preserve the integrity” of the proceedings. 

The board is committed to spaces for students and staff that are “safe, welcoming and inclusive,” Choo-Hum added.

Each teacher has filed individual claims but will be asking the tribunal to hear the applications together. They are seeking $150,000 each in general damages for injury to dignity and compensation for psychological counselling.

The complainants are also requesting tribunal orders requiring the respondents to develop transparent, enforceable policies to deal with antisemitism and requiring education for leadership.

The employers singled out in the complaints include: Toronto District School Board, York Region District School Board, Simcoe County District School Board and Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Claims are also made against the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and Ottawa-Carleton Elementary Teachers’ Federation.

Jason Miller is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering crime and justice. Reach him on email: jasonmiller@thestar.ca or follow him on X: @millermotionpic.