Ontario education minister tells schools to keep graduation ceremonies strictly ‘apolitical’

Ontario’s education minister is facing pushback over a memo sent to school boards which said graduations shouldn’t contain any political messages.

Ontario’s education minister defended a letter he sent to school boards earlier this week, calling for graduation ceremonies to be “strictly student-centred, apolitical, inclusive and respectful.”

Calandra was grilled by reporters at Queen’s Park on Wednesday about the letter, which the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) found deeply concerning.

“I expect graduations to be a highlight of student achievement, full stop,” the minister said.

“I simply want it to be, and I think most parents and teachers themselves want it to be, on student achievement. I think graduations are, not I think, I know graduations are very important to parents, they’re very important to students, but it’s also, it’s an opportunity for students to be recognized for their hard work, but it’s also an opportunity for parents to recognize the hard work that teachers have done to get their students to that spot.”

Calandra told reporters the letter was prompted by a memo sent from the superintendent of the Hamilton Wentworth School Board to teachers that, in addition to student achievement, graduation ceremonies should also focus on “colonization and a whole host of other divisive issues.”

In the letter dated March 20, Calandra wrote that graduation ceremonies are “not an appropriate forum for organizers or administrators to express political views or promote personal or institutional positions, or engage in divisive or contentious issues of any kind.”

The minister then said he expects school boards to review and, if necessary, revise graduation protocols to keep the focus on recognizing student achievement.

Calandra warned in his letter that if boards failed to meet his expectations, he would not hesitate to use every tool available to him “to ensure that students are always put first.”

“Under no circumstances should educators be placed in positions that create conflict between students and their families. Graduation ceremonies must remain free from disruption, distraction, or division, and are expected to reflect the significance of students’ accomplishments,” the minister wrote.

Calandra told reporters on Wednesday that he is confident school boards will cooperate.

“If they don’t, then we will provide some binding regulations for next year,” he said, reiterating that his ministry has tools to set expectations for graduation ceremonies. Calandra would not say if that included putting non-compliant boards under supervision.

When asked what would happen to a student who expressed anti-Doug Ford sentiments at graduation, Calandra clarified the purpose of his letter is not to police speech but is meant to address how graduation ceremonies are organized.

“When you go to a graduation ceremony for your child or any of you go, it should be focused on the child’s, the student’s achievement. It should be focused on what teachers did to get your child or student to that level,” the minister said. “It should not be about divisive issues. It should be about student achievement. Full stop. We’re not policing what valedictorians say in their speeches.”

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles slammed the government for trying to politicize graduation ceremonies.

“They are saying to students explicitly that you know you’re going to be muzzled if you want to speak out against our government. And I think that’s unacceptable, and that is not the place and completely inappropriate for the Minister of Education,” Stiles said on Wednesday.

“I think the minister knows he has overstepped, and now he’s trying to lash out at everybody else,” she added.

CCLA concerned

In a statement on Tuesday, the CCLA criticized Calandra’s directive, calling it a “sweeping limitation on the expressive rights of students, educators and staff.”

“Expression should not be censored by governments, school boards, or schools solely because it is political in nature or could be perceived as divisive,” CCLA fundamental freedoms director Anaïs Bussières McNicoll said in a statement.

“Political speech plays a unique role in our society, enabling individuals to participate in public discourse, express dissent, and hold those in power accountable. These are precisely the skills and habits of mind we expect our education system to cultivate.”

The CCLA also took issue with the second part of Calandra’s letter about the “unequivocal expectation” that school staff uphold the highest professional and ethical standards.

The minister wrote that using social media to promote violence is “unacceptable” as well as any form of racist commentary, stereotyping or the use of inappropriate or derogatory language.

“Individuals employed within publicly funded education systems are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the trust placed in them. Their actions and public statements carry consequences and have a direct impact on the integrity of our institutions and the communities we serve,” Calandra wrote in the letter.

On Wednesday, the minister pointed out that a high-ranking official at a Northern Ontario school board allegedly posted on TikTok suggesting the assassination of the U.S. president.

He also cited the firing of two Toronto Catholic District School Board teachers over allegations that they shared racist messages in a social media chat that was accessible to students.

“I fully expect that those who work within the education system at the very least to the same accountability that we hold our students to. Look, teachers are the backbone (of the education system),” Calandra said.

CCLA executive director Howard Sapers said in a statement that it is not Calandra’s role to police educators’ and staff’s off-duty expression.

“Individuals do not surrender their right to free expression when they choose to work in publicly funded education. In fact, a healthy education system depends on professionals who can model thoughtful, responsible, and independent expression,” Sapers said.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Queen’s Park Bureau Chief Siobhan Morris