A publicized student walkout for tomorrow has at least one local parent worried about the ramifications of not taking part.
The father of two potentially-affected daughters – who preferred to remain anonymous – shared his concerns with media, school officials and local politicians after learning of a Student Walkout for Palestine announcement circulating on social media.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday (Feb. 26) at 1:20 p.m. St. Francis Xavier, Craig Kielburger, Elsie MacGill and St. Kateri Tekakwitha are listed as the participating schools, with students asked to make their way along Louis St. Laurent Avenue to the intersection at Regional Road 25.
The notice invites participants to bring flags, posters and keffiyehs.
“While I respect the right of students to express their views on political matters, I firmly believe that participation in such events should be a personal and family decision,” said the concerned father in his email sent out Sunday night. “I kindly request confirmation that my children will not face any academic or social repercussions for non-participation.”
His email – and subsequent inquiries by Milton Today – prompted St. Francis Xavier Principal Adriano Perusin and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Principal Kevin Wong to issue an emailed statement to all parents Monday afternoon that the walkout is not organized or sanctioned by the schools or the Halton Catholic District School Board.
“The safety and well-being of our students is always our priority, and it is our expectation that students are present in class during instructional time,” reads the letter, which acknowledged that the war in the Middle East has had a profound impact on many local families, and included a number of youth support resources available. “Any student who plans on leaving the school during the instructional day must also have permission to do so from their parent/guardian, otherwise they will be marked absent.”
Added HCDSB Chair Marvin Duarte, “The Ministry (of Education) has been very clear that schools are places of education and not political battlegrounds.”
The Student Walkout for Palestine was found on at least two Instagram accounts, including Milton Palestine Action Committee, which is described as a “coalition of groups in Milton, Ontario advocating for ending the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and for a free Palestine.”
A similar statement went out to parents at the two potentially involved public high schools Monday.
“To confirm, the HDSB, including our schools, do not organize or sanction any walkout, nor are they permitted to occur on our properties,” said Heather Francey, general manager of communications with the Halton District School Board.
She shared the statement emailed to parents, which included recognition of the distress and emotional impact of the war in the Middle East and that “students who wish to talk about how they are feeling or who are in need of support are encouraged to speak, at any time, with a trusted adult such as a teacher, educational assistant, social worker or school administration.”
The HDSB statement also included mental-health resources.
The school boards’ response has offered clarity for parents and – seemingly – alleviated some of the worry initially felt by the concerned father, who noted how easily children can be influenced and manipulated.
“This particular issue, regardless of how we as parents, feel, has a lot of violence and hate involved, so when it comes to my children’s participation in this matter, I’m going to choose to protect them from this.”
“We feel strongly about them thinking for themselves, and if they feel strongly about something then we’ll support that. I just don’t want my children used as pawns.”