TDSB field trip to rally compromised 'emotional safety of some Jewish students,' report says

A report that looked into a field trip by the Toronto District Board last year says the "emotional safety of some Jewish students was compromised" at the event but not their physical safety, and that the board failed to follow its own policies and procedures when it organized the excursion.

The report, released Wednesday and written for the provincial government by former Ontario civil servant Patrick Case, looked into the field trip to the Grassy Narrows River Run in Toronto on Sept. 18, 2024, where pro-Palestinian chants were heard and anti-Zionist stickers were worn by some.

Following an outcry, Ontario Premier Doug Ford asked the education ministry to investigate the field trip, saying children shouldn't be at protests and should instead be in school learning math, spelling, geography and history.

"Despite the fact that the TDSB failed to comply with its own policy and procedure that are intended to ensure student safety, with respect to the planned field trip to the Grassy Narrows River Run event, there was no evidence that 'students were forced to participate in a political protest' nor was students' physical safety compromised," the report says.

"That said, the emotional safety of some Jewish students was compromised. Teachers and principals should be more consciously anticipatory with regard to proposed field trips and clearly communicate with parents."

"There is value in engaging students in constructive and critical conversations and content while upholding human rights principles and respecting each student's identity and lived experience," its conclusion says.

The Grassy Narrows River Run march was held to pressure the government to address decades-long mercury contamination in Grassy Narrows First Nation since a paper mill in Dryden, Ont., dumped 9,000 kilograms of the substance into the river systems in the 1960s.

The TDSB took about 535 students, ranging from grades three to 12, from 19 schools to the event. The event involved a gathering at Grange Park, a march to Queen's Park and a gathering at Queen's Park.

Videos on social media showed some march participants chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, which prompted Ford to call it a "Palestinian rally" and complain that teachers were trying to indoctrinate children.

According to the report, participants did chant pro-Palestinian slogans and wore anti-Zionist stickers at the rally.

One chant heard, according to students interviewed, was: "From Turtle Island, to Palestine, occupation is a crime."

The report said one student also believed they heard: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

"Without minimizing the deleterious effect of the pro-Palestinian chants and anti-Zionist stickers on children, I cannot overstate the importance of context. According to those who attended the event (both Jewish and non-Jewish students and teachers), the pro-Palestinian chants took up a total of approximately five minutes of the eight-hour event," the report says. 

The report also notes that the TDSB principals of all 19 schools failed to obtain approval from their superintendents for the field trip, which is required by the board's own policy, and failed to do so at least one month before the trip, which is required. This approval was required because the field trip was not on an official list.