Schools grapple with discussions about war between Israel and Hamas

At least oneJewish schoolin Ottawa addressed the war between Israel and Hamas right away.

"We actually had a special assembly," said Aryeh Kravetz, rabbi and dean of Judaic studies atTorah Day School of Ottawa.

"We sang together and we were able to support each other and be there for one another."

Kravetztold CBC Radio's All In A Daythat the school called a gathering ofparents and students, and held a prayer.

That approach is one amongmany, asschools in Ottawaare grappling with how besttoaddress the Israel-Hamas war while supportingthe wellbeing of students.

Some parents are praisingrecenteffortsto keep learning environments safe, but advocates for Muslim students say otherboards across the country are failing to properly addressincidents of Islamophobia stemming from the conflict.

A 'delicate dance'

The Ottawa Jewish Community School said itdeveloped age-appropriate activities to provide information to students.

It also helda town hall on the first day back after the Thanksgiving weekend and is offering mental health support staff.

"The delicate dance we do each day is to figure out how to give enough space to it [the war]so that our students can ask questions, can find that information, can feel useful, can reflect, can share to pray, to be together," said Dr. Jon Mitzmacher, who heads the school.

"Andhow much space do we give for children to be children and to learn and to have fun to do the things that they need to do."

Both the Jewish community school and Torah day school haveupped security around their buildings.

OCDSB starts online support groups

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)is hosting support groups for both Jewish and Muslim students in Grades 7-12, according to a news release.

The board is "monitoring for and addressing antisemitic, Islamophobia, or other hate-based activity," it said.

CBC requested more details on the program but did not receive a response in time for publication.

"I actually would like to come to commendthe Ottawa-Carleton District School Board for putting this together so quickly,"said David Baker, parent of a Grade 12 student in anOCDSBschool."It's something that's definitely needed."

Baker's son was the victim of an anti-semitic attack at his school in 2022, and said the thought of another one has been top of mind since the conflicterupted.

He said his son has been safe at school since, and he hopes the new support groups give students space to process the situation.

Muslim studentsleft out,advocate says

The National Council of Canadian Muslims agrees that support groups are a good first step, but it'sdisappointed with the waymany school boards across the country have handled communication around the conflict.

"Some statements only talked about the harm and hurt that Israeli and Jewish communities were facing, which of course is important to note," said Aasiyah Khan, the council's director of education and interimchief operating officer.

"But we do also need to acknowledge that there is a grief that's also cutting through the Palestinian students in your class as well as the Muslim students in your class."

Khan said a lack of that acknowledgement has led toMuslim parents having difficult conversations with schools about the safety of their children.

The council is getting hourly callsfrom parents for advice, shesaid,and is receivingmore reports of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism since the war broke out.

Those reports are comingfrom across the country, Khan said, but the majority are in Ontario, including some from Ottawa.

"Students are actually being questioned or being asked to ... condemn particular acts that of course they have nothing to do with," Khan said.

She said staff are coming to her with reports of overt harassment, which has made them feel like they did after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. And they're noticing a "drastic increase" in people feeling generally unsafe in education spaces.

Khan said educators need to be better equipped to talk about these issues and better educated on the history of the region. She would also like to see more resources about Palestinians becauseanti-Palestiniansentimentis a specific problem, in addition to Islamophobia.