¿ì²¥ÊÓÆµ

Skip to main content Skip to local navigation

The Conversation: People studying to become teachers speak about Islamophobia and anti‑Palestinian racism in Ontario schools

A study found that educators and students in Ontario schools self-censored related to Palestine, fearing punitive measures if they voiced their views freely. (Pexels/Beyzaa Yurtkuran)

The rise of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian racism is playing out in Ontario schools, widely influenced by broader geopolitical and social issues.

Although , schools are  .

While we acknowledge that  and intersect to produce racial discrimination and violence, such as surveillance and censorship.

We recently engaged in  with people who are studying and practising to become teachers (pre-service teachers). We were interested in how prepared they are to challenge anti-Muslim bias and anti-Palestinian racism in Ontario schools.

We did this through interviews with 32 teacher candidates across Ontario. We focused on pre-service teacher perspectives so we could gauge current issues and gaps in teacher education programs.

The findings of our study, which documented gendered Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism in Ontario schools, points to the need for systemic changes in the province’s schools to better reflect the cultural and religious diversity in these spaces.

Read the full story in T.

Article co-authored by Faculty of Education Assistant Professor