Twelve Jewish teachers file human rights complaints over alleged antisemitism
The teachers allege their school boards and unions failed to act on incidents like swastikas drawn in classrooms.
TORONTO — Twelve Jewish teachers have filed human rights complaints against four Ontario school boards and three teachers' unions, alleging systemic antisemitism and discrimination in their workplaces.
The teachers, who filed applications with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, say the institutions failed to act on incidents of hate and, in many cases, penalized them for reporting discrimination.
"All of these teachers all went to their unions for support and the boards for support and help and they were ignored, which is why they're having to sue," said Kathryn Marshall, the employment and human rights lawyer representing the applicants.
READ MORE: Nova Scotia law firm files notice of class action over alleged teacher abuse
READ MORE: Jewish Advocacy Group Calls Belleville Synagogue Shooting a 'Wake-Up Call' on Rising Antisemitism
The complaints name the Toronto District School Board, York Region District School Board, Simcoe County District School Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and Ottawa-Carleton Elementary Teachers' Federation.
The teachers are seeking damages of $150,000 each for injury to their dignity and self-respect, as well as compensation for psychological counselling.
One teacher alleges the TDSB did not investigate or meaningfully address an incident in which a swastika was drawn on a desk in her classroom even though she made a complaint.
Another teacher said they witnessed students playing a game about Hitler in the schoolyard, while still another said a student played the Nazi anthem in class.
A third teacher said she was met with hostility and publicly reprimanded after she tried at a union meeting in Toronto to speak out about antisemitism at work.
A fourth teacher complained about the Star of David being removed repeatedly from the school's anti-hate bulletin board and said nothing was done.
"The common thing that a lot of these teachers have experienced is they've gone to their school boards to make complaints and there haven't been sanctions, there haven't been investigations, there hasn't been action," Marshall said.
"And in some cases, the teachers who made the complaints actually ended up being suspended, or they ended up being put on leave, or they even ended up being investigated and told: 'Actually, you're just being discriminatory.'"
Along with monetary compensation, the teachers want the tribunal to order the boards and unions, within six months, to develop transparent, enforceable policies and processes to combat antisemitism in schools, with input from the Jewish community.
They are also asking the tribunal to order the respondents to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism endorsed by the Government of Ontario.
Although the teachers have filed applications to the tribunal individually, they will ask the tribunal to hear the complaints together.
Marshall said the teachers are not saying that having a view on the conflict in the Middle East, criticizing the Israeli government or supporting human rights in Gaza, is antisemitism.
"That is absolutely not what this case is about whatsoever. This case is about teachers who are scared to go to work because they are being subjected to hate because they're Jewish," she said.
Ryan Bird, spokesperson for the TDSB, said the board doesn't comment on legal proceedings or matters involving individual employees but said it would respond to specific allegations during 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.
Christina Choo-Hum, spokesperson for the YRDSB, said the board is unable to comment on the complaints to "preserve the integrity" of the process.
Sarah Kekewich, spokesperson for SCDSB, said the board also doesn't comment on legal proceedings or matters involving individual employees but it will respond to specific allegations through the tribunal process.
Diane Pernari, spokesperson for the OCDSB, also declined to comment on the allegations, saying "all allegations of antisemitism and other forms of hate brought to the Board’s attention are thoroughly investigated and addressed."
Carla Pereira, spokesperson for the ETFO, said: "We do not comment on legal matters, including those that are before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal."
The OSSTF and OCETFO did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.
The complaints come amid heightened concerns about antisemitism in Canada, including a recent shooting at a Belleville synagogue on Yom Kippur. Nosy Mag reported in September that a Jewish advocacy group called the shooting a 'wake-up call' on rising antisemitism.
With files from CBC News, National Post and The Globe and Mail