Thread by @daKenzySoror

I was asked by several of my fellow students to address some of the concerning replies made by “grownups” on my Twitter posts, but I thought it more fitting (due to tomorrow’s elections) for me to address a far more pressing issue: (1)

The divisiveness and fear being sown since January are to be reaped (one way or another) tomorrow. Again, this thread will touch on sensitive topics that some may find triggering, so please be advised. (2)

As I follow several potential and current Trustees, this post found its way onto my feed. Having been at the January 17th Board meeting, I know there is nothing factual about this post. “Gender Queer: A Memoir” was not once mentioned at that delegation. (3)

The image quoted indeed has a high shock value (the original post was unblurred), so I looked up the book and saw that it is stirring the “school library appropriate” controversy in the US. But how significant is it for us here? (4)

A quick check reveals that there is only a single copy of this book in the entire WRDSB (out of 121 libraries serving 64000 students). (5)

While there should be nothing off-limits when it comes to a healthy and respectful discussion, to me, the disproportionate panic and anger about a single book copy seem anything but organic or genuine. (6)

It wasn’t like this post was unique in its content. It looked like part of a wider campaign using (in many cases) the same image, so it didn’t take much to find the source for the quoted page. (7)

“CT” is a website made to justify and promote the narrative behind the events that transcended at the January 17th Board delegation (as well as collect donations in support of the cause). (8)

The CT website embeds another website made by, as disclosed by CT, a "concerned parent in British Colombia”. It’s important to note that the entirety of that BC website was embedded (not linked nor forwarded to) as an integral part of the CT website. (9)

It, in fact, constitutes the entire “library books” section of CT (which was more or less the whole reason behind the delegation). (10)

Below is a CT screenshot showing the list of books deemed inappropriate. Taking CT’s own advice to put things into context, I compiled a list to show the number of copies in all WRDSB libraries (per the lookup site linked on the same CT page). (11)

I am not going to argue about the appropriateness of these books. I will just point out that most of these books exist as less than a handful of copies, and the majority are only available in high school libraries. (12)

This inaccessibility suggests that many titles made the list merely for their shock value, while the most abundant books there were once more “The Other Boy” and “Rick”; the two books that were grossly misrepresented at the delegation (snippets + actual context below). (13)

While few of the books are there for no disclosed reason (indicated “under review”), I would like to highlight the report provided for “The Hate You Give”. The word “sex” got 32 search hits, all of which are listed across 5 pages of the 44-page report. (14)

But, it only takes a single look at the search results to see that 29 of them are false positives, and the 3 remaining are from the repeated mention of the phrase “sex drive” in a single dialogue (of a 464-page book). (15)

Also accessible inside CT (via embedding) is a conspiracy theory-based stance against SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) programs in BC schools… (16)

as well as (template) letters where the "concerned parent from BC" addresses Trustees from both Halton (ON) and WRSDB (ON) with excerpts from the “concerning books” reports. (17)

Also accessible inside CT (via embedding) is a compilation of disciplinary proceedings involving Ontario teachers since 1998, spanning 10637 pages. The "concerned parent" has also kept this compilation up to date (with the latest entry dated October 2022). (18)

CT also endorses a specific list of Trustee candidates (for the values they stand for). A similar sentiment is echoed by sites under investigation over a possible breach of the Municipal Elections Act. (19)

therecord.com/news/municipal…

So here’s where we’re at: Concerned parents in/out of province orchestrating efforts to fight against public ed. littered with “child molesters” and “sexual abusers” who devised a “sectarian political agenda that uses coercive psychological techniques to sexualize children… (20)

and alter a child's natural gifts and characteristics inherited at birth”, several Trustee candidates (presumably) aligning themselves with said mission, and websites from anonymous 3rd parties campaigning on their behalf to "liberate" the Board. (21)

I see what initially appeared to be a legitimate concern being methodologically twisted, embellished, and used to manufacture anger and fuel hatred. (22)

I see that very same harmful narrative endorsed by current and potential Trustees and I can't help getting scared… thinking who will be targeted next? (23)

There seems to be a newfound love for “US imports” in our region: The pejorative use of the word “woke”, compiling “ban-worthy school book” lists, even importing US advocates who helped “American families retake their school boards” to lend a hand. (24)

It was just a couple of weeks ago when a “teacher constituent” reached out to their Trustee to voice a concern about being “forced to accommodate” religious/cultural minority students (25)

Students who are not lucky enough to have the entire school calendar tailored to the holidays they observe. At least we know there won't be a shortage of marginalized groups for “concerned constituents” to be concerned about once LGBTQ+ students are “out of the way”! (26)

Similar to the majority of WRDSB students, I am still under the voting age and thus have no voice in this election. Yet, I hope those that do have a voice make good use of it tomorrow. (27/27) #VOTE #MunicipalElection #WRpoli #OntEd #wrdsb #wrdsbmtg