Teacher Called Jewish Girl ‘Half-Human’ Amid 781 Antisemitic Incidents
New federal survey reveals systemic hate in Ontario’s K-12 education system, with nearly half of cases ignored by school officials.
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Hamilton, Ontario – A shocking new report released by Canada’s Special Envoy on Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism has exposed 781 antisemitic incidents in Ontario’s K-12 schools, affecting approximately 3,000 Jewish students across the province.
The data, collected through a federally commissioned survey, paints a disturbing picture of systemic harassment, hate, and inaction. The report reveals that nearly one in six incidents involved teachers or school-sanctioned activities — including a case where a teacher allegedly told a six-year-old Jewish girl she was “half-human” due to her heritage.
More than 40% of incidents included Nazi salutes or comments praising Hitler, with common chants like “F*** you Jews,” “Jews are vermin,” and “Jews are cheap” being reported. The report also notes that fewer than 60% of incidents were related to Israel or the ongoing war in Gaza, highlighting deep-rooted antisemitism beyond political discourse.
Worryingly, 49% of all reported incidents were not investigated by the schools where they occurred.
Josh Landau, Director of Government Relations at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) in Ontario, condemned the findings:
“This federal report makes one thing clear: the status quo for Ontario Jewish students is unsustainable and unacceptable,” Landau stated.
He pointed to the Toronto and Ottawa-Carleton school boards—both currently under provincial supervision—as “some of the most hostile environments for Jewish students and teachers.”
Landau urged the Ontario government to take immediate action, including:
This is the first comprehensive federal snapshot of antisemitism in Ontario classrooms — and it highlights a growing climate of hostility, fueled by ignorance, hate, and institutional apathy.
The findings add pressure on the Ford Government to address what critics call an “epidemic of educational antisemitism,” and raise urgent questions about teacher training, school oversight, and the cultural climate in Canadian classrooms.