Lecce sent a letter to teachers on Friday outlining expectations for “discussion and commemoration” to celebrate the Queen’s life, according to a spokesman. He continued this week by repeating that direction to school board leaders, calling for a minute’s silence on Monday and clarifying that “the day’s activities include learning about the Queen’s many contributions to our province, country and Commonwealth and the accession of King Charles III,” said Grace Lee, a spokeswoman for his office. In a statement to CBC News on Thursday, Lecce said he had instructed a certain Ontario board to follow the province’s expectations. It comes after the York Region School Board (YRDSB) encouraged administrators to take a more low-key approach to the Queen’s death. “We have made clear our direction that all schools must recognize the profound impact of Queen Elizabeth II’s lifelong and unwavering commitment to public service,” Lecce said. Last week, the York Region School Board sent a memo to administrators advising restraint in dealing with the Queen’s death to respect a diversity of opinions. (York County School Board) After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday’s funeral would be marked by a federal holiday, the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Yukon followed suit, making it a provincial holiday and closing schools and government offices . British Columbia also recognizes the federal holiday by closing schools and giving government employees the day off. Ontario chose to keep schools and workplaces open, choosing instead to mark a “day of mourning.” However, Lecce’s directive to school authorities goes further than those in other provinces. The premiers of Alberta and Manitoba, for example, have encouraged K-12 schools to observe a moment of silence, recommended giving students opportunities to participate in commemorations, and proposed discussions about Elizabeth’s life. The day after Elizabeth’s death, the York Region school board, which oversees suburban communities north and west of Toronto, sent a “tip sheet” to administrators with guidance and thoughts on how to navigate this time of students and staff. He said, for example, that flags would be at half-mast until sunset on the day of the funeral, per provincial direction, but recommended restraint in the overall treatment of the matter in order to respect a diversity of views. “Monarchies are steeped in problematic histories of colonialism that are linked to today’s ongoing oppression of individuals and groups,” the paper said. Teachers are taught to “always focus [on] our students,” says high school teacher and union leader Muna Kadri. “Our Minister of Education is not a teacher and therefore does not have this training.” (CBC) “It is important to consider how the lived experience of each staff and student can shape their perspective.” He said teachers should answer students’ questions with evidence and validate their feelings. He also asked school staff to refrain from developing tributes, commemorative activities, playing God Save the Queen during announcements or live streaming memorial events. YRDSB is led by educators who “always center [on] our students,” said Muna Kadri, a high school teacher on the board and chair of the teacher and casual teacher bargaining unit for the Ontario Federation of Secondary Educators. Lecce “is not a teacher and therefore does not have the training to understand that, in every design in our schools — in every classroom — you start with where our students are,” he said. Lecce’s statement, he pointed out, uses the word “students” once. For its part, the YRDSB says its memo was sent before the province revealed its plans on Monday. Having now received Lecce’s instructions, the board will do what is required, a spokesman said. That said, the board still seems to be walking a fine line. “Our aim is always to ensure that children are supported while in our classrooms. In a region as rich as ours, there will be different reactions to the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death,” he said in a statement to the CBC News.
