Another Jewish teacher targeted with ‘Hitler salute’ in North York public school: TDSB
Posted February 25, 2022 1:14 pm.
Last Updated February 25, 2022 5:18 pm.
For the second time this month, students at a North York school have targeted a Jewish teacher with the Hitler salute.
Jewish Human Rights group, B’Nai Brith, says the latest incident took place on Thursday in a Grade 6 classroom at Pleasant Public School.
In a release, B’Nai Brith said two male students approached the substitute teacher and performed the salute, holding it for some time while she pleaded with them to stop.
“They knew exactly what they were doing,” the teacher told B’nai Brith. “I felt attacked. They kept their hands up for a long time. It was blatant and so obvious.”
The teacher said the school’s principal took immediate action, but it’s not yet clear if or how the students were disciplined.
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) provided CityNews with a letter sent to parents on behalf of Pleasant Public School, which acknowledged the incident, saying officials “immediately began investigating these very upsetting allegations.”
“Yesterday, during a class discussion, students were asked to raise their hands in response to a question. Two students kept their hands up for a longer period of time, which the teacher saw as a ‘Nazi salute,'” Principal, Brian Fong, wrote in the letter.
“As a result of what has occurred, we believe it’s important for students to be able to understand the impact of hate symbols and will be working to incorporate this as a learning opportunity to underscore our commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment at our school.”
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Fong says the school plans to arrange a program with Michelle GliedGoldstein — a well-known and respected educator from “Carrying Holocaust Testimony” — for its grade six students.
“As a school, Pleasant PS is committed to providing students with critical thinking skills that enable them to understand complex issues from many different perspectives,” Fong continues in the letter.
“This is particularly true when issues intersect with different identities and lived experiences. It is important that we continuously reinforce our commitment to equity, inclusion and respect for all.”
The incident comes on the heels of a similarly disturbing one last week at another North York school where a Jewish teacher, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, was surrounded by students who flashed the Hitler salute at her.
TDSB spokesperson Shari Schwartz-Maltz said the teacher had briefly left her classroom at Valley Park Middle School, and when she came back, “several students surrounded her and gave her the Heil Hitler salute.”
It happened on Thursday, February 17 — the same day that anti-Semitic graffiti was also reportedly found at the school — and just weeks after, students at another North York school reportedly performed the Hitler salute in front of classmates.
“It’s had a deep effect on her, and she is the child of Survivors,” Schwartz-Maltz confirmed. “You can imagine how she felt.”
It was “very hateful, very hurtful, very upsetting to the teacher.”
Toronto police say they are aware of the recent incidents and are investigating.
We are aware of 2 anti-Semitic incidents at local schools in @TPS32Div. We’ve sent officers to learn more & we will work with the schools to determine next steps. There is no place for hate in Toronto & @TorontoPolice will investigate any & all cases for appropriate charges.
— Chief James Ramer (@jamesramertps) February 25, 2022
