September 26, 2024
In a news conference Thursday morning, B’nai Brith Canada announced that it has developed a robust policy framework to help school boards across the country respond to the unprecedented crisis of antisemitism in their districts since Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel last Oct. 7, 2023.
“It is paramount that students learn that antisemitism or hatred of any kind is unacceptable in their foundational school years,” notes the document, called the B’NAI BRITH POLICY FOR COMBATING ANTISEMITISM IN SCHOOLS (PCAS). “[The policy’s] purpose is to ensure that the school environment is free from antisemitism and to provide Jewish students with support in expressing their cultural, religious and historical identity.”
Adopting the policy, B’nai Brith contends, would demonstrate schools’ “commitment to combating antisemitism as both a form of prejudice and a legacy of colonial oppression.”
The framework, shared with school officials across Canada, is meant to serve as a counterpart to PCAC, a similar policy B’nai Brith recently introduced to help universities address antisemitism on their campuses.
B’nai Brith’s release of PCAS comes as the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) faces an investigation for allegedly allowing staff to bring students to an anti-Israel rally during school hours.
“Antisemitism driven by radical ideologies is increasingly becoming a problem in elementary, middle and high schools,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy. “School boards such as the TDSB need a better definition of antisemitism to improve their existing anti-hate policies to ensure they include the hate being faced by Jewish individuals. PCAS was created to serve that purpose, and we are confident it will.”
B’nai Brith looks forward to the widespread adoption of the PCAS.
