Durham trustee calls proposed school board human rights policy 'dangerous'

Because the Durham District Faculty Board works on a brand new human rights coverage, one trustee is suggesting that such paperwork will be “harmful” and restrict free speech.

On the Jan. 24 assembly of the DDDB’s governance and coverage committee, Oshawa Trustee Linda Stone mentioned the proposed human rights coverage may shut down “opinions and variety of thought” and that “differing opinions” must be accepted.

“Assaults on free speech is a common tactic of illiberal teams who want to solely have their beliefs heard. Fall in step with the orthodox mind-set or you can be cancelled, chastised, doxxed, fired…” Stone mentioned.

A revised draft of the DDSB’s proposed Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Coverage was introduced ahead for the committee to debate following current group consultations.

“Systemic racism and discrimination aren't debatable, they exist in Ontario and so they exist within the Durham District Faculty Board,” mentioned DDSB Director of Schooling Norah Marsh talking on the necessity for a human rights coverage. “The work that now we have the chance to do…is to call white supremacy and different types of systemic oppression and discrimination, and dismantle it.”

Pickering Trustee Paul Crawford questioned the way in which the time period “white supremacy” is used within the draft coverage, saying individuals affiliate it with far-right extremist teams.

"White supremacy has to come back out of there, both that or it must be described otherwise," Crawford mentioned.

The draft coverage defines white supremacy as: “a racist ideology primarily based on the idea that white id is the norm, customary and splendid. It doesn't seek advice from excessive hate teams or far proper extremists. It isn't about good and dangerous individuals. It's concerning the accumulation of social, cultural and institutional energy that has and continues to benefit a bunch of individuals. It refers back to the pervasiveness, magnitude, and normalcy of white privilege, dominance, and assumed superiority in society.”

The second part of public consultations on the proposed human rights coverage launched in November and included a survey, session conferences and a digital public open home.

Additional dialogue of the coverage is anticipated to happen at DDSB’s subsequent governance and coverage committee assembly on Jan. 31.