A Toronto teacher and daughter of Holocaust survivors was surrounded by middle school students all making Nazi salutes last Thursday..The teacher said two students stood up on filing cabinets performing the Nazi salute while a third shouted “Heil Hitler” from his desk, said Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre (FSWC)..FSWC said the teacher “remains deeply traumatized by the incident,” and they urge action from the school board..“It’s had a deep effect on her, and she is the child of survivors,” said Shari Schwartz-Maltz, a spokeswoman for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB.).“You can imagine how she felt,” adding the event was “very hateful, very hurtful, very upsetting to the teacher.”.The principal of Valley Park,.George Bartzis, sent out a notice to parents which said antisemitic graffiti was also found at the school, “along with three students who performed the ‘Hitler salute’ in front of classmates.”.Police are now investigating the incident, and the TDSB said the children will face consequences..“Antisemitism has reached epidemic proportions at TDSB, and it is time for the board to recognize this as the crisis that it is,” said Michael Levitt, FSWC president and CEO..“It is unfathomable and shocking that in 2022 a Jewish teacher is faced with Nazi salutes and a ‘Heil Hitler’ chant in her classroom..“Clearly, something is broken in Toronto’s public school system and requires immediate attention.”.Schwartz-Maltz said as a result of many incidents, the TDSB has vowed to bring more Holocaust education into schools in the district..The TDSB previously worked with community partners who share stories about the Holocaust but will do so more proactively going forwards..Toronto Mayor John Tory released a statement saying the incident was “sad” and “hurtful.”.Ewa Sudyk is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.esudyk@westernstandardonline.com
