Toronto teacher subjected to ‘Hitler salute’ speaks out
Global News
'I had to just immediately walk out of the classroom. I could no longer be in that environment,' the teacher told Global News of her reaction to the salute by two students.
A Toronto teacher with 12 years experience said the way she views “her career” and “education in the Toronto District School Board” has changed after she was subjected to the “Nazi salute” by two Grade 6 students on Thursday.
It’s the third time this month, the hateful gesture has been made inside a Toronto District school.
The 35-year-old who asked that Global News identify her only by her first name, Sarah, said she was substituting at Pleasant Avenue Public School, in a classroom with children she had taught before, when two 12-year-old boys performed the salute and left their hands up for a long time. She said she had no idea they knew she was Jewish.
“I had to just immediately walk out of the classroom. I could no longer be in that environment,” the teacher told Global News. “At that moment in the classroom, I mentioned ‘your hands are up in an interesting position and a very long time.’ I was not sure, ‘do I scold these children right now? I’m thinking at that moment, I’m feeling so hurt inside, I can’t even act or know what to do in that situation.”
The teacher said Pleasant Principal Brian Fong took swift action and summoned the students to his office. He also questioned every student in the class about what happened.
A news release issued by Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada said “this morning, Fong was immersed in meetings deciding disciplinary action, and according to sources, consulting with Toronto District School Board (TDSB) officials.”
Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith, told Global News he’s satisfied the school is dealing with this seriously and said the organization learned about the disturbing incident of antisemitism after Sarah called its anti-hate hotline.
“The teacher reached out to us. She was traumatized. These are young kids in your face, doing Hail Hitler salutes knowing you’re a Jew,” said Mostyn concerned about the disturbing trend he called “systemic.”