A Jewish mother in Vancouver says she was told she was being bullied by a teacher “many times” after she was told she was being bullied by a teacher Palestine Classroom flags and symbols.
Merav Nider told Global News she filed a complaint after her son's seventh-grade teacher hung a Palestinian flag in the classroom.
The flag was taken down but was later replaced with a flag that showed the outline of the State of Israel in red, green and black.
Nied said the painting was widely seen as a call for the destruction of Israel.
After speaking with the principal, she said that flag was also removed.
“We do a disservice to children by forcing them to participate in politics when they are not old enough to accept it and make an intelligent decision about which side to take,” Need said.
“Therefore, it is best for schools to provide a safe learning environment for children where all children are welcome.”
When asked about this on Tuesday, Education Minister Rachna Singh said they encourage parents and guardians to speak up about such incidents.
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“I would really encourage any parents who find themselves in a similar situation – they should speak to their child's class teacher and their principal, but we at the Department of Education take these matters very seriously,” she said.
The Vancouver School District did not comment on the incident but told Global News that whenever an issue arises, it is addressed immediately by the district and involves conversations between school officials and staff.
Nider’s experience is the latest in a string of similar incidents reported by Jewish parents across B.C.
In Burnaby, school district apologizes for 12-year-old Asked Assessing Israel’s right to exist in one test.
An 11-year-old student in Victoria also experienced a similar situation, Global News reported Monday night.
The district confirmed it investigated the case and took a number of actions.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver is now calling on the provincial government to review such situations in British Columbia schools.
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