A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Canada's largest school board has voted to make its required English credit for Grade 11 students a class focused on Indigenous works. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank GunnFrank Gunn/The Canadian Press
The Ontario government will investigate the circumstances surrounding a Toronto District School Board field trip last week where videos appeared to show students marching alongside a rally by pro-Palestinian protesters.
Education Minister Jill Dunlop said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday that the school board “has failed to take swift and decisive action on this matter.”
“As such, I have asked my ministry to initiate an investigation into the events that took place at the TDSB last week. Those responsible should be held accountable,” Ms. Dunlop added.
The excursion to downtown Toronto Sept. 18 was attended by students from about 15 schools to observe the Grassy Narrows River Run, an event in support of the Grassy Narrows First Nation and their efforts to address mercury contamination affecting their community.
The TDSB described the event as an educational experience to hear from Indigenous voices.
However, videos circulating on social media appear to show students also being led through a march and participating in a pro-Palestinian rally.
Children as young as eight were taken on the excursion, although most students were in high school.
In an email statement Tuesday evening, TDSB’s acting education director Louise Sirisko and associate directors said that the board will fully cooperate with the ministry investigation. “TDSB has serious concerns about what took place,” Ms. Sirisko and the associates said, adding that the board has launched its own investigation and a review of field trip procedures.
On Monday, Premier Doug Ford condemned the board for its actions, and called for an immediate probe into how the excursion was permitted.
“I think it’s disgraceful. You’re trying to indoctrinate our kids,” Mr. Ford told reporters. “They should be in the classroom learning about reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, the whole shebang. But instead, the TDSB and these teachers want to bring them down to a rally, a Palestinian rally, and it’s ridiculous.”
The TDSB said last week that it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the trip after pressure from community members. The board said that students should not participate in organized protests as part of a field trip and that would be clarified with its schools.
The TDSB also apologized for the harm the excursion caused to students.
In a statement on its website on Friday, the board said that if policies and professional standards were not followed, it would take “appropriate action, which may include discipline and/or changes to our field trip process to ensure accountability.”
The board has scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday night to discuss what happened and what further steps need to be taken to address concerns.
Michelle Stock, vice-president for the Ontario branch of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, welcomed the province’s probe into the excursion and commended the minister for the government’s swift action.
“While it is unfortunate that such measures need to be taken, greater board accountability is required to ensure that all students and educators feel safe and included,” she said.