All students are welcome at the Toronto District School Board and harassment, discrimination and hate have no place in our schools and sites. TDSB recognizes that fostering safe, respectful, equitable, accessible, and inclusive learning and working environments are necessary to create joy, belonging and success for students and staff.
It is important that there is accurate information available for our community about Board updates and decisions. The following Questions and Answers provide additional information on recent changes to the TDSB’s Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy:
What is the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy?
The Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy was first introduced in March 2022. This strategy is a multi-pronged approach to address hate and racism in schools by placing a focus on classroom learning. This is one aspect of a broader systemic approach to effectively identify, respond to, remedy, and prevent racism, hate and discrimination in TDSB learning and working spaces. This strategy encompasses six components and is the foundation of the approaches that guide the work undertaken by numerous departments and system leaders:
- Classroom Instruction
- Caregiver Engagement and Learning
- Cyber Safety and Digital Citizenship
- Tools for Response – Taking Action
- Student Leadership
- Educational Partnerships
What did the Board do to update the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy?
TDSB presented an updated framework in March 2023 which outlined a process for staff-led community based committees to create work plans to combat hate and racism. The distinct strategies at the time were to address: Anti-Indigenous Racism, Anti-Black Racism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Ableism, Anti-Asian Racism and Homophobia and Transphobia.
These strategies or work plans address: (a) Affirmation of Identities, (b) Student Learning Strategy, (c) Professional Learning, (d) School-Community Relationships,
(e) Employment Equity, and (f) School Climate and Culture.
In a meeting on June 5 and a continued meeting on June 18 of the Program and School Services Committee (PSSC), staff provided an update to PSSC on work that had been completed and work that remained ongoing. As part of this update, Anti-Palestinian Racism was added as a distinct strategy.
Why was Anti-Palestinian Racism added to the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy?
Anti-Palestinian Racism was added to the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy Update, 2024 after years of hearing from students, staff and families about their experiences and concerns about student safety, inclusion, and well-being.
Does TDSB have a Anti-Palestinian Racism strategy in place? What does it say and how does that impact staff and students who are Jewish and/or Israeli?
There is no strategy in place as it was just added. A working group will be formed to begin creating this work plan. Any work plan to address Anti-Palestinian Racism or sentiments will not discriminate against those who hold Jewish or Israeli identities or further anti-Israeli sentiments. Addressing antisemitism is also a core area of focus for the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy.
The Anti-Palestinian Racism strategy will be consistent with the Board's obligations under the Human Rights Code and will not discriminate against any students or staff.
Does this mean students and staff cannot wear symbols of their faith, creed and/or culture at school or at work?
No, there is no policy banning Israeli, Jewish, Palestinian or other types of symbols reflecting a student’s or staff’s faith, creed and/or culture at school and at work.
All members of TDSB communities are welcome to represent themselves and their identities, and are expected to be treated with dignity and respect in their religion, heritage and identities in line with TDSB’s Policy P031 - Human Rights and Policy P042 - Student Dress Policy .
Does the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy include a definition of “Anti-Palestinian Racism”?
No, the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy does not include nor does it adopt any organization’s definition of Anti-Palestinian Racism. Social and other media reports claiming otherwise are not accurate. The report only adds Anti-Palestinian Racism as an area to be addressed as part of the overall strategy. Each work plan within the strategy includes a focus on: (a) Affirmation of Identities, (b) Student Learning Strategy, (c) Professional Learning, (d) School-Community Relationships, (e) Employment Equity, and (f) School Climate and Culture.
Is the TDSB addressing antisemitism? Is antisemitism included in the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy?
TDSB has always addressed all forms of hate in its schools. This includes antisemitism. Antisemitism was incorporated into the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy in 2023 when forms of racism and hate were first added. Combating antisemitism is a priority for TDSB, which is why we created a community-based working group to develop specific strategies related to antisemitism and offer a variety of professional learning opportunities for staff. This work continues and we acknowledge that additional effort is required. Recent reports to the contrary are inaccurate. We encourage individuals to read the staff report for accurate information.
Why wasn’t Anti-Israeli Racism added to the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy?
Our Anti-Hate strategy is not and has never been finite. All forms of hate — regardless of the identity of the person it is directed toward — have no place at TDSB, and we will continue to look at how to address individual incidents and broader trends as part of creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.
What is happening with the Islamophobia Strategy?
The working group on Islamophobia has been working on a strategy and recommendations will be made to the Committee in the Fall.
What is the TDSB’s definition of antisemitism?
The TDSB adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in 2018 as part of the Equity Policy (P037) . This is the definition adopted by both the Government of Ontario and Government of Canada .
Did TDSB pass a policy specifically against Anti-Palestinian Racism?
No, TDSB has not passed a “policy” against Anti-Palestinian Racism. The Board of Trustees voted to receive a staff report providing an annual update on the work to combat all types of hate and racism in TDSB schools. The phrase “Anti-Palestinian Racism” was added to a list of strategies of hate and discrimination, including Anti-Indigenous Racism, Anti-Black Racism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Ableism, Anti-Asian Racism and Homophobia and Transphobia.
What did the Board approve at its June 19, 2024 Regular Meeting?
During the June 19 Regular Board Meeting, a number of Trustees raised concerns with receiving the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy in its original form. The Board approved the following:
- That the report be received;
- That staff incorporate the following items into the work:
- centering student belonging for all students, to ensure the Combating Hate and Racism Strategy aligns with the Multi Year Strategic Plan
- concerns raised by the Jewish community about the significant rise of antisemitism as noted in our own data and city data and the need for increased actions to combat this rise; and
- That staff report back on how this work is being implemented in schools in future iterations.
Why is TDSB only focusing on Anti-Palestinian Racism and excluding other forms of hate, racism or discrimination?
Some social and other media coverage have chosen to focus only on this issue without reading the staff report, which states clearly that the TDSB is focusing on eight distinct areas to combat hate and racism: Anti-Indigenous Racism, Anti-Black Racism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Ableism, Anti-Asian Racism, Homophobia and Transphobia, and now, Anti-Palestinian Racism. As a result of incorrect social and media coverage, it may appear to the public that it is the only type of racism TDSB is addressing, and that is not true. We encourage members of the public to read the full report . Archived videos of the meetings are also available.
All incidents of hate, racism, and discrimination are investigated and addressed according to TDSB policies and procedures including:
- Policy P051 - Caring and Safe Schools Policy
- Policy P031 - Human Rights Policy
- Policy P037 - Equity
- Policy P034 - Workplace Harassment Prevention for Non-Human-Rights-Code Harassment
- Procedure PR697 - Promoting a Positive School Climate
- Procedure PR702 - Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour
- Procedure PR703 - Bullying Prevention and Intervention
- Procedure PR585 - Board Code of Conduct
How does the TDSB define racism, bias and hate?
The terms “Hate/Bias Incident” and “Racism Incidents” are defined in PR728 - Reporting and Responding to Racism and Hate Incidents Involving or Impacting Students in Schools . Any alleged hate/bias or racism incident is addressed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with PR728.
If students or staff feel that they are being bullied, harassed, or discriminated against, what should they do?
If students or staff are being bullied, harassed, or discriminated against, they should immediately notify their school Principal or Manager. Principals are required to report any incidents of racism, bias and hate that involve students and/or staff as outlined in PR728 - Reporting and Responding to Racism and Hate Incidents Involving or Impacting Students in Schools .
Why were delegates not allowed to speak to the changes made to the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy?
The Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy was first presented at the Program and School Services Committee (PSSC) meeting on June 5, 2024. Community members were invited to provide oral delegation during that meeting in accordance with TDSB’s Delegation Procedure and Board By-laws . During the June 5 PSSC meeting, all delegates who requested to speak on this item were heard. As the agenda item was not completed at the June 5 meeting, a special PSSC meeting was scheduled for June 18 to allow Trustees to continue their discussion about the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy and to deal with other unfinished agenda items. It was not a new meeting for which delegations could occur. Delegations happen at the beginning of Committee meetings so that Trustees hear from the public before an item is presented. Oral delegations cannot happen during the middle of a discussion. No oral delegations were taken at the June 18 meeting as it was a continuation of the previous meeting. Delegates were encouraged to provide written delegations if they did not have an opportunity to delegate on June 5.
At the June 18, 2024 meeting of the Program and School Services Committee, there were suggestions that Anti-Asian Racism was not addressed by the Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy Update. Is that true?
Correct. The update did not include detailed information on the comprehensive work plan to address Anti-Asian Racism or similar work plans that will target other forms of hate, bias and racism against other communities. To address the rising number of Anti-Asian Racism incidents, the TDSB will soon form a community-based working group to inform the work plan to combat Anti-Asian Racism. In the meantime, TDSB continues to address all forms of hate, bias and racism, including Anti-Asian Racism. For example, the Elementary Teachers of Toronto and TDSB worked together to create Addressing Anti-Asian Racism: A Resource for Educators. This work will continue.
Has the TDSB added Nakba Day to its Days of Significance Calendar?
No. We are currently reviewing our Days of Significance at TDSB and no additional days are being added during this review.
What does the TDSB data show about incidents of racism, bias and hate in schools?
Information on incidents of racism, bias and hate can be found in annual reports prepared by the TDSB’s Human Rights Office.