Many unions, including the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF) have released statements condemning the hateful rhetoric coming the organizers of the anti-2SLGBTQIA+ protest “1 Million March 4 Children.” Unions have also called out provincial governments for propping up hateful rhetoric.
READ MORE: Rallies held across the country to push back against hate
The anti-trans fear mongering has put people in danger, but it may also fulfill a subtler function of pushing forward governments’ education privatization schemes. At least that is the suspicion of Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OBSCU).
“At the rally that I was at yesterday, the person leading the hate march had a sign. It did not say anything about parents’ choice or anything like that. His sign said, ‘Vouchers please, Mr. Lecce,’” Walton said in an interview with rabble.ca. “That really belies to me that there is another agenda here. The goal is taking money and privatizing our public school system.”
This sign is calling on Education Minister Lecce to implement a voucher system. This means that parents will receive vouchers of government money to put their kids in schools of their choosing. Voucher systems are usually implemented to help families cover the cost of private school tuition.
“When we start talking about voucher systems, if you look at anywhere where that’s happening, like the US and out west, it is not beneficial. As a matter of fact, what folks forget is that private schools can control who comes to their schools,” Walton said. “So, while you might think that you are in the majority, you may find yourself in the minority and not being welcomed into a school.”
As hate groups stoke fear of 2SLGBTQIA+ support in schools, it may also stir the desire to switch kids to private schools among some parents. Walton said she has heard people tell parents that if they do not like what is going on in public schools, they should take their kids somewhere else. However, this argument can prove dangerous.
Taking kids out of an environment in which they encounter diverse people and ideas may further embed hate in Canada.
“Through education and respectful dialogue, we can bridge gaps and create environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected,” the ETFO wrote in a statement denouncing the hate rallies. “But first, we must embrace diversity and acceptance.”
To cut off this dialogue entirely allows hate to fester.
As well, if a large number of parents begin to look to private schools, the implementation of voucher systems could funnel money away from the public school system.
“A public school system and a public education system are great equalizers, it allows everyone to come free of charge, to school and to learn,” Walton said. “We are an open space for everybody. When people start saying, ‘Oh, I want this element of the curriculum taken out and I want more of this element,’ we’re starting to delve into this world of individual education. But the public education system is about collective needs.”
Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ discourse is also furthering privatization sentiments by pitting parents against public education workers.
“It is alarming that several politicians are contributing to this troubling trend,” ETFO wrote in their statement. “Recently, Premier Doug Ford accused school boards of indoctrination. Education Minister Stephen Lecce scolded boards for upholding students’ human rights related to gender identity, and members of parliament are on social media using dog-whistle terms like ‘woke’ to gain political clout. Instead of spewing rhetoric they know is harmful and dangerous and that pits parents against educators, they should be ensuring safe and inclusive spaces for every student in the province and for every constituent they serve.”
Union office vandalized
The anger towards education workers who support 2SLGBTQIA+ students has grown so strong in Ontario that three Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) offices in London were vandalized.
“They just plastered the exterior of the buildings with signs that said, ‘Keep your hands off our kids,’ and ‘No gender ideology, no gender politics in schools,’” said Laura Walton, President of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OBSCU). “That speaks volumes to me. That wasn’t during a protest that was prior to the protests and the intent was to intimidate.”
Walton said the targeting of teachers’ and education workers’ unions made sense to her. Hate groups are trying to target organizations who have the collective power to speak out against hate.
“Education workers want to be able to ensure that children are free from bullying, that they are accepted for the way that they are. We don’t want to ‘out’ children,” Walton said. “That is not something we ever want to do. We recognize that often children share things with us because they’re unable to share it with a caring adult at home.”
Walton said that CUPE education workers, and many other workers recognize that home is not always a safe place for students to express their gender identity. Despite this, governments across the country have been pushing for policies that require parents to know when children choose to use different pronouns at school.
In New Brunswick, the government revised a policy that would require teachers to get parental consent before using a student’s preferred pronouns. Saskatchewan announced a similar policy and Manitoba has promised to “expand parental rights” as well. In Ontario, the education Minister said he also believes parents should know when a child chooses to use different pronouns.
Despite some alarming trends, workers remain mobilized against hate.
“As the Conservative Party of Canada continues to welcome extremist voices in the party, the Canadian Union of Public Employees will be there to fight back,” CUPE wrote after the counter protests. “Wherever worker’s rights are challenged by hate and intolerance, we will be there. Trans rights are human rights.”
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
