Standing Against Anti-Semitism by Vincent John Lecce

My name is Vincent and I am a Teacher Candidate at Niagara University in Ontario for the Bachelor of Professional Studies in Education Program. My topic and issue today is anti-semitism in schools and outside of the classroom. Anti-semitic behaviours that promote the hatred of Jews is abominable, yet very real, existing in schools and outside of them to this day.

I was inspired to write a blog post about this critical concern by a man named Neil Orlowsky who gave a talk at a student conference at Niagara University in Ontario, which was just a part of a series of presentations had at the university in Ontario. Neil made it a point to reflect his workshop on what is currently happening not only around the world to this very day, but also what is happening in our near vicinity as teacher/educators in York Region and the GTHA (Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area). The amount of pictures taken to show the anti-semitism that is ongoing throughout certain school boards in our local area correlates with the amount of truly compassionate concern we need to demonstrate in our classrooms today.

To have a voice that condemns these acts as hate acts, to start the conversation with students about why anti-semitism is abominable and wrong, what it leads to, and how we can move away from this hatred in behaviour is to demonstrate our education in and around these topics. To initiate and instigate genuine concern for these acts of hate in schools means to display these images to educate and not inspire hatred, but to know what is wrong from what is right – to speak up against acts of hate instead of allowing it to happen on an ongoing basis.

The impact of the talk was powerful and uncomfortable to watch as slides were turned to display the acts of hate that are found around our cities and region. It is a call for action to inspire those who need that spark to speak up against hatred of any kind, whether it be anti-semitism or anti-black acts of hate.

I am very appreciative of Neil's talk, and hope to inspire students to act in a similar vein.

Courtesy of Vincent@NUO