On Friday, February 17, CHES delivered a workshop for OCDSB Canadian and World Studies (CWS) educators’ Professional Development Day at Colonel By Secondary School. CHES Chair Mina Cohn was approached in early January by a member of the CWS subject counsel with a request for CHES to prepare a session that would help to support and prepare educators with respect to understanding and addressing antisemitism.
Led and facilitated by Kenra Mroz, an educator at Sir Robert Borden High School and a member of the CHES Education Committee, the presentation was entitled Creating Safe Spaces: Navigating the Language of Antisemitism and Hate. The session featured segments from Avi Posen’s November educators’ workshop for CHES.
It was designed in response to OCDSB educators’ requests for direction, suggestions, tools, and resources regarding three key areas:
- Recognizing and addressing antisemitism
- Navigating challenging – and potentially uncomfortable – conversations related to antisemitism and associated topics and issues
- Creating safe and inclusive spaces in which to encourage and guide these conversations
The workshop was very well-attended and received. The educators said they appreciated the opportunity to learn from CHES and to be introduced to – or to learn more about – CHES and its educational resources. They emphasized that the presentation helped them to better understand and appreciate the concept of Jewish identity, and said they now feel better prepared with respect to identifying and demystifying antisemitism.
Participants reported a number of important takeaways from the workshop, including:
“Lead with inquiry rather than trying to prove a point. Shift focus to how did we get here?”
“Don’t be afraid to check in with students who look like they may need support … regardless of how awkward the encounter.”
“Access to CHES. Awareness and confidence in tackling these complicated and challenging conversations.”
Following the workshop, information and resource links were shared with the participants, who were encouraged to reach out to CHES at any time for additional information and support, or to arrange a survivor’s visit.
“A warm thank-you to Mina for the assistance she provided and connecting teachers and the school board with this workshop opportunity, and to Executive Assistant Jessica, for the support she provided throughout the preparation process and on the day of the presentation,” said Kenra.
