![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rfmcdonaldThe Globe and Mail's Simon Houpt notes in his article "Ezra Levant wrongly accuses Ontario school board of allowing exemptions for Muslim students on Remembrance Day" that Ezra Levant has gotten it wrong.
Does Levant just think any publicity is good publicity? I wonder.
Does Levant just think any publicity is good publicity? I wonder.
In a column published Tuesday in Sun newspapers, Mr. Levant writes that the Greater Essex County District School Board, which includes Windsor and Leamington, Ont., instructed principals “to be prepared to exempt Muslim students from Remembrance Day.”
He points to a memo issued last week in which Superintendent Sharon Pyke suggests accommodations may be made for some children. “Some families may be reluctant to have their children attend your location municipality’s ceremonies. Please note that meaningful alternate activities should be provided at the schools for those families who do not wish their children to participate in any Remembrance Day ceremonies.”
[. . .]
In fact, the school board says, its memo had nothing to do with Muslim families. Rather, it was a response in part to safety concerns raised by parents whose children might be attending public memorial events. On Tuesday, about 300 students participated in a memorial at the Windsor Cenotaph that included dozens of veterans in uniform.
“It’s because of the attack that happened at the Cenotaph in Ottawa, and the fact that it’s apparent that ISIL or ISIS has targeted individuals in uniform, and there would be individuals in uniform in attendance at public ceremonies,” said Scott Scantlebury, a public-relations officer with the board, in an interview. Last month, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot while serving as honour guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. In a separate incident, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was run down in a parking lot in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.
The school board memo, which was primarily about the significance of Remembrance Day, included a series of six links directing teachers to online resources.
“Remembrance Day is a wonderful ‘teachable moment’ – and the Canadian War Museum has lots to offer with resources that are reflective of our Canadian nation – and our equally diverse local population,” read the memo, with a link to a page on the National War Museum site.
