A teacher at a Toronto school has been temporarily relieved of their duties after allegedly showing students “a portion of a violent video” related to the shooting death of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk.
The incident happened at Corvette Junior Public School on Thursday, says a letter sent to parents from Principal Jennifer Koptie.
Students in Grades 5 and 6 were shown the video once after asking the teacher about “a recent tragic event in the United States,” Koptie said. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) confirmed to CBC that the video was related to Kirk’s death.
“While an investigation must still be conducted to learn all of the details, the report of this incident is extremely troubling and completely unacceptable,” Koptie said in the letter sent Friday.
The teacher has been “relieved of all teaching responsibilities” while an investigation is underway, said Koptie’s letter, adding they will also not be at the school.
Her letter says the teacher was supervising the class and is not the homeroom teacher.
“Our top priority is supporting students,” Koptie said, adding that a member of the school’s social work team was made available to students to check in with them and provide support. .
Kirk, a right-wing activist and close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday while speaking before an outdoor campus gathering.
