Ontario premier says Toronto middle-school field trip to Gaza protest was 'disgraceful' and 'disgusting’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his objection to a “field trip” organized by some Toronto District School Board (TDSB) members that was originally said to be about water contamination but was really a pro-Palestianian protest, replete with chanting and anti-Israel slogans.

“I think it’s disgraceful. You’re trying to indoctrinate our kids. They should be in the classroom learning about reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, the whole shebang, but instead, the TDSB and these teachers want to bring them down to a rally, a Palestinian rally, and it's ridiculous,” Ford began.

“I don't want to paint a broad brush for all the teachers, because it's not all the teachers. It's a small minority of teachers and it's no different in our universities as well.”

Ford urged teachers to “stick to teaching the kids geography, history, math, spelling. That's what they need. They don't need to be indoctrinated” He had a warning for the teachers who organized the sideshow: “there needs to be an investigation and we’ll be all over this and make sure people are held accountable. They’ll think twice about taking these young little kids without the parents' permission on these school trips. It's disgusting.”

TDSB elementary students were not only brought by their teachers to participate in the pro-Palestinian march but were also reportedly informed by their instructors that they should wear blue shirts that would clearly identify them as “settlers” and “colonizers.”

The story was initially contained to social media and received little coverage from mainstream outlets. But parents and family members were furious that they were apparently told that the grade seven and eight kids were going on a field trip to learn about the Grassy Narrows First Nation’s long-time water contamination crisis and not informed about any pro-Palestinian protest.

Teachers went one step further when they even reportedly told the students to wear blue shirts so that they could be identified as “colonizers” and “settlers.” Many of the children objected to being so labeled and one Jewish student said she wasn’t comfortable with the program, according to the Toronto Sun, Her teacher allegedly told her, "You’ll get over it."