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“A skewed view of history that demonizes the state of Israel”, warned CAEF
- 23 February 2023
- 5:05 am
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- 23 February 2023
- 5:05 am
“This was presented yesterday at a @OSSTFtoronto PD event for teachers. OSSTF boss Mark Kissel is responsible,” tweeted Michael Teper, showing a slide of a map rooted in the Islamist disinformation campaign to delegitimize the creation of the Jewish state. “Is this the official history of Israel per @osstf?” (Image: Twitter)
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“If that set of slides becomes taught in Canadian schools, Jews here would be well advised to find another country.”
That was one reaction to viewing what was presented as historical facts to the Toronto local of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) in District 12 on Feb. 17. A professional development day was held on the topic of “anti-Palestinian racism: Nakba Denial”. That means the Toronto District School Board paid the wages of teachers to learn Hamas talking points about Israel and Jews.
The lead presenter was Derik Chica, a guidance counsellor employed by the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). He was happy to defend his presentation on Twitter:
“Today, I co-facilitated a teacher workshop on anti-Palestinian racism: Nakba Denial. Part of the racism Palestinians face here is the erasures of their stories, narratives, & truths. The Nakba is one of those truths attempted to be erased thru racism… What exactly was antisemitic about this workshop on erasing Palestinian histories through racism. The workshop has references in almost every slide?”
But even before he appeared, the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation wrote the union and TDSB officials warning this was a scam on educators.
“None of the presenters appears to have any expertise on the history of the 1948–1949 conflict. What are the presenters, Derik Chica, has a degree in science from University of Toronto and no OCT additional qualification in history. The other presenter, Maysam Ghani, it’s not an OCT member and there’s no apparent qualification in history” the CAEF stated on Feb. 13, four days before the session.
“While Mr. Chica has the right to his opinions as a private citizen, his opinions do have a bearing on his objectivity and fitness to present an OSSTF event at which TDSB teachers are paid to attend.”
“Chica has an extensive history of hostility to Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people, and the state of residency of 45% of the worldwide Jewish population, repeatedly describing it as an ‘apartheid state’ ” revealed executive director Andria Spindel, calling his sources biased and citing concerns that his platforming would lead to “mobilizing anti-Israel sentiment and Jew-hatred.”
She also revealed, “Ghani has a history of producing art exhibitions that condone violence against Israelis.”
Spindel explained, “There is a distinction between education and propaganda, and the characterization of Israel’s formation as the “Nakba” (i.e., “catastrophe”) is not education but the anti-Israel propaganda.” It was the defeat of the 5 invading Arab armies that “is the true meaning of the word ‘Nakba’.”
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“The 1948–1949 Isreali War of Independence is a controversial period in history that requires a balanced and objective analysis. It does serious disservice to Toronto’s teachers, and the Jewish community, for these events to be presented in a one-sided manner, excluding any Israeli perspectives… It’s unconscionable that Toronto’s teachers will be presented with a skewed view of history that demonizes the state of Israel.”
At the time, she wrote, “This proposed event should never have gotten gotten this far” but the Union went all the way with it under the guise of the event being “Professional Development”. Among the slides presented was quotes from antisemitic personality Desmond Cole, whose offensive antics as a speaker for an “anti-Black racism” event forced the TDSB to apologize to staff members.
After the event, Chica received immediate pushback online.
“The Jews accepted UN partition” pointed out Noah Zatzman, “and the Palestinians did not only reject partition w/ the Jews (the indigenous people in the greatest ever land back movement reclaiming independence in their ancestral home). THE ARAB ARMIES ATTACKED THE JEWS EN MASSE”
Another replied to Chica, “I simply encourage you to also show the same courtesy to the Israeli perspective, and I would affect Jewish kids in our schools and community. I think that would cause equitable education. If you are not offering an equal and like-minded presentation from the Israeli perspective in history, you are failing your students and your duty as an educator.”
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Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
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