Canadian International School students, alumni call for apology, investigation in letter-writing campaign

Students and alumni of the city’s troubled Canadian International School have called for a public apology from the school’s management over the recent dismissal of nine teachers as the furore over the school’s governance continues.

The current and former students made their demand in 10 open letters to the city’s Education Bureau, the Geneva-based International Baccalaureate Organisation, the Ontario Ministry of Education, the country’s consulate general in the city and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

They also called for external investigations into the school governance and administration.

The 10 letters, each of which was written by students or alumni from 10 classes, argued that “in light of school’s inability to uphold the pedagogical values mandated by the bureau, and the educational systems which authorise the school to grant International Baccalaureate Diploma and Ontario Secondary School Diploma, an thorough external investigations into the school’s governance and administrative issues must be conducted,” according to a statement.

In a cover letter written by this year’s graduating class, the recent alumni said: “The sudden news of staff terminations, the overt issuance of these notices, and the subsequent visible presence of security guards caused notable distress among the student body. Students and teachers were in tears; it was a scene that was completely unprecedented in its emotional impact.”

The letters warned of a potential decline in the quality of education at the school, and of “fragmentation of the school community”, and asked their recipients for help in “restoring the school to a path of stability and unity through realignment with the values of respect and discourse”.

The dismissal of the nine teachers was the latest incident in an ongoing confrontation between the school’s management and a large segment of its students, parents and teachers, who say the management interferes in the school’s administration.

The uproar started in November when a leaked letter revealed a conflict between Kennedy Liu, then the chairman of the board, and several of the senior staff, including head teacher Dave McMaster, who has since stepped down.

Liu also quit his post under pressure but the conflict has continued under the reign of McMaster’s replacement, Gregg Maloberti, whose appointment was marred by charges of cronyism. Maloberti has been accused of bullying and trying to silence his critics on the staff, as two senior teachers were sacked in March, but he has denied that.