We, the undersigned, call on the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) to immediately rescind the current guidance on Expression of Identity and Global Conflicts.

Although the OCDSB claims this policy promotes equity and inclusion, in practice it has done the opposite—creating unsafe, divisive, and discriminatory conditions for Jewish students.

By permitting political slogans, flags, and symbols tied to international conflicts—especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—the policy has turned schools into platforms for activism rather than learning. Meanwhile, expressions of Jewish or Israeli identity, such as wearing a Magen David or displaying the Israeli flag, are often met with hostility or disciplinary action.

The presence of these political expressions in school classrooms, hallways and events has resulted in Jewish students not only being singled out, targeted, and harassed but also feeling unsafe, unwelcome, and silenced in their own schools. Documented incidents include:

High School Incident:

• Harassment: Jewish students have been bullied, pressured to sign ceasefire petitions, and targeted and chased during Gaza fundraisers. Some faced threats of violence and were forced to leave school early or miss school altogether due to legitimate safety concerns. 
• Graduation ceremonies: Ceremonies became stages for political stances that resulted in Jewish graduates and their families feeling isolated, unsafe, and unwelcomed, in contravention of OCDSB policy.  
• Disruption of Jewish clubs: Jewish students feel unsafe attending school-sanctioned Jewish club after other students harassed and bullied them at one of their meetings (“Look, there are the Jews! Free Palestine!”). Several Jewish students stopped attending afterward. The same school hosted pro-Palestinian protests featuring antisemitic chants and symbols.

Elementary School Incidents:

• Children as young as Grade 2 were accused by students and teachers of wrongdoing “because they’re Jewish.”
•  Grade 5 students were pressured by students to “choose a side” on the armed conflict.
• Grade 3-4 students were walking around waving “Free Palestine” flags at recess.
• In one case, a principal asked a parent to remove their Jewish child from school during a Gaza student protest for safety reasons.

The Expression of Identity and Global Conflicts guidance has resulted in a blurring of the lines between expression of identity and expression of hate.  Countless examples have been documented of antisemitic slogans at school events, symbols used to intimidate Jewish students, and posters promoting anti-Israel boycotts and bias.

The OCDSB’s guidance on Expression of Identity and Global Conflict directly contradicts the Ontario Ministry of Education expectations that schools remain neutral, non-political, and safe for every student. Public schools must be places for learning—not arenas for political expression tied to global conflicts.

We therefore call on the OCDSB and the Ontario Ministry of Education to:

• Rescind the current “Expression of Identity and Global Conflicts” guidance immediately.
• Conduct a full and transparent review of the policy in consultation with affected communities, including the Jewish community.
• Reaffirm that schools are places for learning, safety, and inclusion for ALL students — not for political activism.

Schools are for learning, not division. Every student deserves to feel safe, supported, and free from intimidation.

Stand with us. Demand action. Protect all students.