By Minda Chaikin
An important virtual Teachers’ Workshop was held by CHES on November 17th for 70 educators from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB), both of which promoted the workshop to their teachers. Entitled, “Creating Safe Spaces: Navigating the Language of Antisemitism”, the workshop was led by Avi Posen, senior director of education with Unpacked for Educators, a division of OpenDor Media.
The purpose of the workshop was to illustrate what antisemitism sounds like, feels like, and looks like today in Ottawa schools. Avi provided many Ottawa-based disturbing examples. Powerful testimonies came from a student, a parent, a teacher, and a principal.
Of particular concern was how to create safe spaces for all students, but especially Jewish students, in today’s climate of heightened anxiety and fear. Avi taught the teachers how to understand antisemitism, how it is defined, how to recognize it, and how to respond to it. He provided the teachers with a realistic understanding of how antisemitism is manifesting itself in our schools and how it creates unsafe spaces for Jewish children and teachers. He introduced tools teachers can use to navigate courageous conversations about antisemitism and provided a link to educational resources that can be used in the classroom.
CHES is confident that our approach will ensure that more and more teachers gain an understanding of the complexities of the current rise in antisemitism in Canada. We continue to work with the OCDSB and are beginning a dialogue with the OCSB. Underlying this work is the understanding that this is an ongoing commitment by everyone involved.
