The Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor is investigating after anti-Semitic comments were made during a professional learning seminar.
A presenter was using a chat room platform last week to get feedback from the students about engaging children with disabilities. A commenter in the chat room then asked "is being Jewish a disability" and went on to say that the Holocaust was "greatly exaggerated."
It is unclear if the comments came from a student within the classroom, as the chat room was on an open platform.
Acting Dean at the Faculty of Education Katherine Quinsey says the students reaction to the comments made her proud.
"Everybody stood up, the entire student body there stood up, and basically spoke out against this," says Quinsey. "People were really upset at the time -- they've been upset all week. They've really come together and realized what's important to them. If the university is about the betterment of society I would say teacher candidates and teachers are on the front line of that because the difference a teacher makes to an individual child is just incalculable and they are taking that responsibility very seriously."
The school has contacted the software company to get the IP address of the computer where the comments originated. The investigation is ongoing. Quinsey says if it turns out the comments came from a student within the classroom, they could face a disciplinary hearing and may be asked to leave the program. She says it's not appropriate for someone with those attitudes to enter the teaching profession.
The school also called a special professional learning seminar on professional standards that was held FRiday and mandatory for all students.
"We can treat it as a learning moment and a experiential moment for our students," says Quinsey. "I think what they learned is that they can't be complacent. Even in Canada we cannot be complacent, this stuff is out there and everyone has a responsibility to deal with it."
