Spurious Changes to Curriculum in Ontario Schools
Changes are
currently underway in the Ontario education curriculum,
aiming to associate opposition to Israel's ongoing occupation and
ethnic cleansing of Palestinian lands with anti-Semitism, hate, and
what are termed "extreme ideologies." This initiative is purportedly in
the name of
safeguarding democracy, all while revelations emerge about Canada
funding and training neo-Nazis in Ukraine, with evidence coming to
light about the settlement of many Nazis in Canada post-World War II,
one of whom was given a standing ovation in the Parliament. The
financial support for Nazis to
wage war against Russia and the presence of Nazis in Canada are avoided
by governments, raising questions about their involvement and cover-up.
Amidst these developments, discussions about anti-Semitism and
preserving democracy are irrational and disingenuous to say the least.
On November 1, just over a month after a Nazi was honoured in the House of Commons by all Members of Parliament and the head of Canada's army, the Ontario government announced the introduction of "new and expanded mandatory learning about the Holocaust in the compulsory Grade 10 history course." Simultaneously, the province declared a $650,000 investment in community partnerships to provide resources for students and educator training, aiming to expand learning on fundamental Canadian values, including the importance of safeguarding democracy from extreme and harmful ideologies.
Similar announcements were made in November 2022 when the Ontario government mandated Holocaust education in Grade 6, accompanied by funding for various private entities related to Holocaust education and anti-Semitism.
Education about the Second World War and the Holocaust is crucial to arm the next generation with a perspective from which to appreciate the sacrifices made by the resistance of the world's people to Nazi fascism at that time so they can judge what is happening today and take a stand for peace and against occupation and imperialism. In the Ontario history curriculum today the emphasis on teaching the Holocaust is on the development of the importance of human rights in Canada as a result of the experience of the Holocaust. For example a question the curriculum asks is "Do you think the Holocaust affected Canadians' views about Canada's treatment of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit? Why, or why not?" In other words the current curriculum relates the holocaust to the treatment of first nations in Canada given Canada's practice of cultural genocide against Indigenous Peoples. The Ontario government is now changing this approach and financing private groups who focus on linking criticism of Israel to anti-Semitism and hate. This is not about teaching the youth history. It is about trying to prevent the youth from opposing Israeli occupation and U.S. and Canadian support for it.
The government
and the proponents of this approach portray Jews
merely as victims in this educational context, using the horror of the
Holocaust to shield the Zionist project in Israel from contemporary
opposition and criticism. However, Jewish people across Europe during
the Holocaust were
integral to the worldwide resistance movement, fighting against Nazi
expansion and occupation. Today, as Israel's actions mirror some of the
Nazi tactics, the Palestinian people's resistance becomes paramount,
drawing inspiration from the global resistance against Nazi fascism
during World War II.
Today, when people like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stand
up at the UN -- as he did on September 22 -- and
literally try to erase
Palestine off the map of the Middle East, they are doing what the Nazis
did to the peoples of much of Europe.
Today Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands and efforts to occupy more and more of it has been made clear for all to see because of the resistance of the Palestinian people and all those who refuse to accept it, as we do today. It is because of this resistance that this is the case. This resistance holds high the experience of the peoples of the world during WWII that their only security lies in their fight for the rights of all. It is because of the resistance to occupation from the time of Israel's founding to today that the Palestinian people have a future and will be free!
This article was published in
Volume 53 Number 33 - December 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/MS53335.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca