Ontario’s education minister is telling school boards to ensure their upcoming graduation ceremonies don’t express any “political views” or “engage in divisive or contentious issues of any kind,” according to an internal memo obtained by CBC News.
The memo, signed by Education Minister Paul Calandra and addressed to educators and school board staff, warns failure by school boards to meet those expectations “poses a real risk to student well-being.”
“I will not hesitate to consider every tool available to me in the Education Act to ensure that students are always put first,” Calandra’s memo said.
“At minimum, boards must ensure that staff are held to the same standards expected of students,” the memo said.
Asked why the letter was sent to educators and staff, Emma Testani, press secretary for Calandra’s office, said “the letter speaks for itself.”
Last year, a high school student in Ottawa was told to stay home after making pro-Palestinian remarks in her graduation speech.
Martha Hradowy, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), called Calandra’s letter “out of touch.”
“Teachers and education workers do not need lectures from the Minister about professionalism,” she said in a written statement.
“They demonstrate it every day through the time, care and effort they put into making milestones like graduation ceremonies meaningful for students and families.”
In a statement posted on social media, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) said the memo “ignores the realities of students’ lived experiences.”
“Educators are highly trained professionals committed to student well-being, equity, and human rights and do not require heavy-handed directives to uphold these values,” the statement said.
The memo also comes after a new Ontario law gave the education minister more power to take over school boards.
A total of eight school boards are currently under provincial supervision, according to the provincial government’s website.
