U-T
The Canadian Jewish News. Thursday. April 23. 19^-Page 7
Canada
Teacher probed for racist links
By
PAUL LUNGEN
TORONTO —
A three-man committee associated with the Peel Board of Education is investigating complaints that teacher Paul Fromm is linked to white supremacist organizations and should be dismissed, but even if the complaint is upheld, the board is not likely to remove Fromm, 77?^ ON has learned.
Liast week, representatives of Canadian Jewish Congress called for Fromm's dismissal, suggesting his association with, racist organizations put him in violation of the Education Act as vyell as anti-racism policies adopted by the Peel board.
But Robert Lee, director of education for the board, said a teacher can be "terminated for cause" only for his activities as a teacher in the school. While he said he did not wish to predetermine the outcome of the investigation, violating criteria set in the Education Act for a teacher as a role model is a certification question, he said, adding that licensing of teachers comes within the jurisdiction of the Education MinistPr', not the board.
He said the investigating committee, which may submit its repon to the board at its nej^jmeeting on April 28, could. recommend: dismissing allegations against Fromm; a written reprimand; suspending the teacher: or call on the Mini,ster of Education to remove Fromm's teaching certificate.
Fromm first landed in hot water in October 1991 when, during an address by Native leader Rcxlney Bobiwash to the Toronto Mayor's Committee on Race Re-, lations. Fromm shouted. "Scalp *eni."
The interjection prompted calls then for .his fe:nioval from.the classroom.
In the interim. Canadian Je^'ish Con^ -gress obtained a copy of a video of a "Martyr's Day Rally." held on Dec. 8, 1990 to honor the memory of Robert Jay Mathews, a member of the violent, white supremacist group. The Order, who was killed in a 1984 shootout with FBI agents in the state of Washington.
Extracts from the video were presented by Congress to the board at its riieet-ing last week and,the video left with them. Fromm, whose organization, Canadians for Foreign Aid Reform (C-FAR), co-sponsored the rally, reportedly addressed the gathering saying, "We're all on the same side.
"But we must know who the enemy
is. . .We are quite right to honor heroes here tonight."
The video shows Fromm addressing the gathering while flanked by flags of the Heritage Front, the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazi swastika.
In a news report on CBC radio, Fromm denied he was a.racist and suggested he was the subject of a witchhunt. He said he was being assailed for "politically incorrect" views, was the victim of guilt by association, and he asked whether radical lesbians might also be investigated if parents disapproved of their viewpoints.
In published reports. Fromm also de-. nied co-sponsoring the rally (though promotional material lists C-FAR as a, sponsor) and he twice denied attending the rally. The Toronto Sun reported. Faced with the quotes of his presentation, he said he did attend but said he thought it was a rally about free speech.
In his presentation to the Peel board, David Satok. chairman of Congress' community relations committee,-said parents from minority groups would have an "apprehension of bias," wbriderihg whether their children would be treated equally in Fromm's class.
He cited several issues of Canadian Population and Initnigration Quarterly, a publication issued by C-FAR. In its Crimewatch section; between December 1988 and August 1989. if ran headlines such as: Sikh Ceremonial Dagger Used In Assault; Black Charged in Burning Prostitute; Charged in Attempt Murder, Jamaican Files Refugee Claim; Two Blacks Get Eight Years for Pimping in Ottawa. • -
Satok also argued that the example set by Fromm negates the principle that a' teacher should serve as a positive role model. His employment, in effect, supports bigotry, Satok suggested;
Louis Lenkinski. vice-chairman of Congress' community relations committee, told the board that as a Holocaust survivor, he does not want to see those who share Fromm's views accepted within the mainstream of society.
He cited Fromm's association with white supremacist groups like Church of the Creator (COTC), which co-sponsored the 1990 rally. In a 1992 newsletter, COTC referred to Jews as "human rats." Lenkinski said.
Congress spokesman Bemie Farber said the board heard the presentation in "stunned silence."
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By
BEN ROSE
TORONTO -
A talk on The Future of the Jews in Quebec is one of the highlights of the annual conference in Toronto May 24-25 of the Canadian Jewish Historical Society.
Nairn Kattan, a noted author and former associate director of the Canada Council, will talk about Jews in Quebec at a public free admission meeting at Holy Blossom Temple at 8 p.m. May-24 co-sponsored by the Temple's continuing education committee. Kattan is now writer in residence at the University of Quebec in Montreal.
The conference gets underway Sunday morning at the Constellation Hotel at 9.45 a.m; with the film Memories of Old Montreal ^KXXW-ed by Prof. Stanley Asher, John Abbot College, Montreal.
This will be followed by a joint session with the Canadian Jewish Congress plenary entitled The History of the Sephardic Community of Canada, with Prof. Messod Salama,
Nairn Kattan
Memorial University and Dr. Jean-Claude Lasry, president, Comite des Relations Ashkenazes-Sephardes, Montreal.
Inlhe afternoon, a session chaired by Prof. Miriam Waddington, York University, will focus on Women Yiddish Writers in Canada with participants Shirley Kumove, Freda For-
man. and Prof. Adam Fuerstenberg of Ryerson.
The Monday sessions will be held at the Lipa Green building and begin w ith The Jewish Press in Canada, Past Glories. Present Realities, with Ben Kayfetz in the chair. Abraham .Arnold, president of the CJHS, Michael Hayman. editor of The Jewish Standard and Patricia Rucker, editor. The Canadian Jewish News will take part.
That will be followed by a session, on Jewish Immigrant Aid with Dee-na Nathanson. Mindy Avrich-Skapinker and Naomi Freeman participating.
The next topic is Jewish-Christian Relations in Canada with Prof. Richard Menkis. University of British Columbia and Prof. Alanpavies. University of Toronto, takirig part.
The last session is on The Legacy of the Jewish Labor Movement chaired by Louis Lenkinski, with Kalman Kaplansky, Harry Simon and "Wilfred List participating.
Members of the public are en-cburagwl to attend the sessions with a nominal registration-fee applying.
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