Anti-Semitism in Canadian Schools? Blame Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory Accused of Fueling Anti-Semitic Incidents in Canadian Schools

May 10, 2024 TruthUSA

Commentary

A 14-year-old boy, dressed in a shirt adorned with a Star of David, is shadowed through a Canadian high school. A group of twelve girls, wearing Palestinian headscarves and face paint, chant “Free Palestine!” as they trail him to the cafeteria, waving Hamas flags.

We will refer to the boy as “David,” although that is not his real name. His mother, who shared this incident with me, is afraid of potential backlash, despite pleading with the principal to take meaningful action. This is not the first time David has faced such an incident, and it is part of a disturbing trend of anti-Jewish violence that seems to be subtly encouraged by those in authority.

When I mention that anti-Jewish violence is “tacitly encouraged,” I am referring to what progressives describe as “systemic discrimination.” We have allowed a belief to permeate our schools and society that ultimately leads to violence: Canadian Jews are its initial victims, but not its last.

Efforts are being made by certain authorities to address the situation. Eby has shown some positive signs, and Ontario’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce advised the Peel District School Board against adding Nakba—an event that portrays the establishment of Israel as a “catastrophe”—to their calendar. However, these actions do not address the underlying issue.

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The main issue at hand is a diluted form of critical race theory (CRT). While CRT can serve as a valuable ethical tool in professional settings, helping social workers and lawyers avoid replicating oppressive societal norms, the version entering teachers’ colleges and schools is problematic.

Cut-rate CRT, implemented through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, divides the world into oppressor and oppressed groups. In its simplistic moral framework, oppressed groups are deemed “good” while oppressors are labeled as “bad.” Simply designating a group as “oppressed” justifies public resources or privileges, and any restrictions on a group’s liberty can be rationalized by classifying them as “oppressors,” in line with Herbert Marcuse’s concept of “repressive tolerance.”

Portraying Canada’s Jewish minority, which has historically faced severe Canadian intolerance, as oppressors is absurd. Columnist Warren Kinsella suggests that the anti-Jewish protests are influenced by foreign interests, using Canada as a battleground for Middle Eastern conflicts. This portrayal gains traction due to the flawed ideology of cut-rate CRT, which asserts that since there are successful Jewish individuals and a successful Jewish state, Jews must be oppressors. The impact of CRT would be comical if it weren’t for the suffering it causes.

Essentially, cut-rate CRT leads to systemic discrimination. As a worldview, it is evidently flawed and unhelpful, serving as a justification for widespread violence. So why is it being promoted in our educational institutions?

The reason lies in the pursuit of power rather than truth. For teachers’ unions and ambitious academics, cut-rate CRT proves more advantageous than its philosophical counterpart. The ability to label almost any group as oppressors and others as oppressed is a feature, not a hindrance. It becomes a tool for gaining power.

The hunger for power often takes precedence. In 2022, the Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation endorsed and elected numerous candidates, investing substantial resources in the process. The Alberta Teachers’ Association openly defied the provincial government and launched a vigorous campaign for school board positions, funding allied activist groups in the process. Billions from the education budget are at stake.

By designating certain groups as “oppressed,” a teachers’ union’s leadership can funnel resources to activist groups aligned with them. By branding others as oppressors, they can strip funding and influence from dissenters, solidifying their own power. They don’t necessarily need actual minority representation on boards; even internal challengers can be easily marginalized and defeated, especially if the existing leadership controls the election process. It becomes the ultimate tool for elite competition.

Unfortunately, the repercussions of cut-rate CRT extend beyond elite power struggles. As evidenced by David’s story and the plight of Canada’s Jewish minority, its ramifications are perilous and potentially deadly. This is why some U.S. states have taken steps to ban CRT in schools, and why a similar approach should be considered in Canada.

At the very least, David would express his gratitude.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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