Hate is a strong word. I was raised to avoid the word and rarely use it unless I am talking about mushrooms. On Wednesday, Sept. 20, hate was dramatically personified across the street from the ATA offices in Edmonton. When I reflect on my 27 years in education, I can say without exaggeration that witnessing the protest was one of my worst days as a teacher.
Having been there in person, I will say this protest was not about considering anyone’s position. It was not seeking to gain an understanding of what is happening in Alberta classrooms. Nor were the people in attendance interested in having a discussion.
Later that afternoon, I was on the CBC talking about what I had witnessed. The CBC also played clips from the organizer of the protest in Edmonton, who said that the protesters were coming from a place of love and that they wanted healthy boundaries. What I witnessed was not love. It was hatred, pure and simple. The whole event was yelling, swearing, giving people the middle finger, “F” Trudeau flags, mandate freedom flags and a bunch of other nonsense that had nothing to do with what the organizers said this protest was supposed to be about.
There was no display of respect for basic human rights. It was bigotry toward the 2SLGBTQ+ community. It was wishing a segment of our humanity did not exist and putting those wishes on a protest sign. It was taking this noise and hatred on a march past several schools where students were learning.
Colleagues, bigotry and hatred cannot be left unchallenged.
On Sept. 20, the ATA issued a statement opposing this hatred toward marginalized individuals and the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The statement was strongly worded, and I have received some criticism for that, but I will not apologize for it. We must continue to call out hate when we see and hear it. I believe in standing up for what I value and for what is right. It’s how I was raised.
So now what? There are lessons to be learned here. We are teachers, after all, and it all starts with a conversation. There are many parents who have legitimate questions about school and education. We need to encourage them to seek understanding, not through social media, but by contacting their schools and their children’s teachers. We need to work within our communities to help dispel the misinformation and lies about what is happening in our classrooms. What is being spread in certain circles is not the reality of today’s classrooms.
We need to share our stories about the needs of our students, but also the successes, to ensure they have the best possible education in a safe and caring atmosphere. For some, school is the safest place for them. We must safeguard that for all our students.
We all deserve to work in a school environment that is safe and caring. Our students, especially those who are marginalized, deserve the same thing. Further to that, we also all deserve respect, and to see our diverse, vibrant lives reflected and celebrated in the places we work and learn.
Sept. 20 was a hard day for many people. I still get emotional when I think about it. However, we are not without hope. Across Canada we saw thousands who stood up in support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Hope comes from working together toward something better and brighter, and after the darkness of Sept. 20, I would emphasize the word together.
ATA President
