Open Letter to WRDSB Director of Education jeewan chanicka
Ascribing hateful motivations to parents only further divides our community.
On September 20, 2023, citizens across Canada participated in public demonstrations under the banner 1MillionMarch4Children. Although broadly a movement challenging the increasingly illiberal authoritarian tendencies of school boards, the protests mostly focused on: (i) the aggressiveness with which gender ideology is being pushed in schools, and (ii) policies that require the consent of students prior to informing parents about gender identity (e.g. pronouns, names) changes in schools.
On September 19, 2023, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) posted a public statement condemning these protests as hateful. As a grassroots collection of Waterloo Region parents, we felt that it was important to correct the record and seek an apology. To this end, our response to the WRDSB Director of Education (copied to WRDSB Trustees) is posted here.
Dear Director chanicka:
We are writing as members of Educating Minds, Parents of Waterloo Region (EMPOWR), a collection of parents and citizens committed to education and liberty.
On September 19, 2023 the WRDSB issued a statement on its website titled “Anticipated September 20 Protests”.
We note that the statement was unsigned, which is unfortunately emblematic of a WRDSB leadership culture lacking integrity and persistently dodging accountability. However, because ultimate accountability for such statements rests with the director we are addressing our concerns to you.
Your statement is beneath your office as Director of Education: it is factually incorrect, partisan, and uncivil. We strongly condemn this divisive statement, which reads as government intimidation and will only undermine public trust in the WRDSB.
You begin with the inaccurate statement that “some of the motivations behind these demonstrations are hate”. Not only do you fail to cite evidence, but you also openly misrepresent the publicly stated goals of the protests. Neither ignorance nor partisan demagoguery are acceptable excuses. Quickly browsing the @1millionMarch4C twitter feed reveals a clear goal: “Advocating children's well-being by removing harmful curriculum and gender ideology from schools.” (See the @1millionMarch4C twitter account, Appendix 1.) You also suggest that the protests may harm 2SLGBTQIA+ and Muslim communities. Again, considering that the Muslim community played a leading role in the March (as well as a wide swathe of Canadian society), your statement betrays either dishonesty or incompetence. Suggesting that these are protests directed against any group of people is the narrative of activists and public sector unions. (See, for example, the ETFO tweet in Appendix 2). Promoting the narrative of one side reflects partisanship.
The WRDSB should reject partisanship and strive for neutrality on controversial political issues (the controversy is confirmed by an Angus Reid poll released on the same day as your statement; e.g. only 14% of Canadians agree with pronoun policies outlined in WRDSB Administrative Procedure 1235). The WRDSB is a public institution funded by taxpayers with diverse political views. Remaining neutral and respecting all views – not just those of activists and teachers’ unions – is critical for maintaining legitimacy in the public eye.
Not only is the letter partisan but it is uncivil. Part of your role as Director of Education is to model civil discourse and be inclusive of all students and all members of the community. Defaming those whose views differ from one’s own as bigots or hateful stifles discussion and demeans your office. Your actions cannot but weaken the public’s respect for the WRDSB.
Your statement will divide the WRDSB community. How will students and staff who supported the protest react to your statement? How can they feel included at school? What about parents and citizens who have legitimate anxieties about what is taught in schools, the books available in the library, or their right to know if their children are considering fundamental changes to their social identities and bodies?
The answer is that they will feel excluded. You have now branded them as deplorable bigots.
Your statement further entrenches the climate of fear and self-censorship which has been growing for years at the WRDSB. We have been contacted by many teachers who will not speak out because they fear for their jobs. This is one of the single greatest indictments of your leadership at the WRDSB. A public school system that so intimidates its teachers from acting in good conscience cannot be trusted to be acting in the best interests of students.
We call on you to publicly retract your statement and apologize to parents, the Muslim community, and the students and teachers whom you have attempted to intimidate.
Please be aware that we are posting this as an open letter and will also post any formal reply.
Sincerely,
Sherin Ameen
Carolyn Burjoski
Cristina Bairos Fernandes
Louis Devlugt
Mike Drews
Sandra Edmondson
Mariya Gul
Luqman Hakeem
Maggie Hobson
Geoff Horsman
Elizabeth Jukes
Jon Jukes
Ahmed Kassad
Lorie Le Riche
Martin Mirt
Wasai Rahimi
Blanca Siguenza
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
