Hindu Forum Canada (HFC) successfully lodged a formal protest against an assignment administered to Grade 7 students at Aylesbury Public School in Brampton, Ontario. The assignment, which included a questionnaire regarding the controversial “Khalistan Referendum,” raised significant concerns within the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada. HFC’s strong advocacy resulted in a prompt response from the Peel District School Board, which has confirmed that the assignment has been permanently removed from the curriculum and will never be part of classroom instruction again.
On behalf of the approximately two million Canadian Hindus and Sikhs, HFC expressed its deep dissatisfaction with the inclusion of this divisive and potentially harmful subject matter in the educational material. The forum called on the Peel District School Board to take immediate and decisive action to prevent such contentious ideologies from being introduced to young, impressionable students.
Canada is a peace-loving nation that values unity, and there is no place for promoting extreme ideologies, especially within schools. HFC believes that educational institutions should foster mutual respect and harmony, and should never be used to sow seeds of division or political discord. The assignment in question challenged the sovereignty of a friendly nation and was entirely inappropriate for a classroom setting, particularly at the Grade 7 level.
In its letter to the school board, HFC highlighted the potential harm of exposing young students to politically charged topics like the Khalistan Referendum. The complexity of the issue far exceeds the comprehension of 12-year-olds, and requiring them to form opinions on such a sensitive matter risks creating divisions within the classroom. The forum emphasized that students spend a significant amount of time together in class and on school grounds, and introducing divisive issues could damage their ability to interact harmoniously.
Following HFC’s letter, the Peel District School Board responded swiftly, confirming that the assignment has been removed from the school’s curriculum and will not be used in future classroom instruction. The board also acknowledged the concerns raised by HFC and affirmed its commitment to ensuring that school content is appropriate and unifying.
Our Concerns
- Promoting Division: The assignment had the potential to cause discord among students from different communities, creating unnecessary tension within classrooms and playgrounds.
- Inappropriate for Children: The Khalistan Referendum is a complex and contentious political issue, beyond the understanding of Grade 7 students. Introducing such topics at this age could lead to confusion and conflict.
- Misuse of Educational Resources: Schools must not be used to propagate controversial political ideologies, especially those that question the sovereignty of friendly nations.
HFC also requested an investigation into how this assignment was approved for distribution and urged the school board to ensure that teachers are not using classrooms to advance extreme ideologies. The forum further called for an apology to the Hindu and Sikh communities, whose children were unnecessarily exposed to this material.
The swift action by the Peel District School Board in removing the assignment and confirming that it will not be used again is a positive outcome. HFC will continue to work closely with school boards and other institutions to ensure that educational content fosters unity and mutual respect.
Conclusion HFC remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the interests of Canadian Hindus and Sikhs and advocating for a peaceful and inclusive Canada. We commend the Peel District School Board for its prompt response and look forward to continued cooperation in ensuring that schools remain safe, inclusive spaces for all students.
