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A Toronto school teacher was suspended for repeatedly showing students a graphic video of Charlie Kirk's shooting, leaving children traumatised.
Charlie Kirk shot at Utah Valley University event (Photo: AP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Sep 15, 2025 00:38 IST
A Toronto school teacher was suspended after reportedly showing students the graphic video of the deadly shooting of US rightwing activist Charlie Kirk. The shooting left 10 and 11-year-old students traumatised.
The educator at Corvette Junior Public School in Scarborough played the horrific clip in class several times, according to reports. Several students informed their parents that they had been shown the video repeatedly.
A source close to the matter informed the Toronto Sun that children went home troubled, some of them complaining that they couldn't keep the images away from their minds. Parents were quick to reach out to the school administration to lodge their complaints.
Following the complaints, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) confirmed that the teacher was sent on leave as of September 12. A letter from Principal Jennifer Koptie to parents was issued, recognising the seriousness of the situation.
“We are writing to inform you about an incident that is reported to have taken place in your child’s class yesterday,” the letter stated. “During class, students were said to have been shown a portion of a violent video in response to questions being asked about a recent tragic event in the United States.”
As reported by The New York Post, the school principal assured parents that the teacher had been taken out of all teaching duties while an investigation was ongoing.
The Toronto Sun also reported that while presenting the video, the teacher made statements indicating that Kirk "deserved" the assault, making anti-fascist and anti-trans remarks. These comments further fuelled outrage among the parents and the community at large.
In a statement, Principal Koptie referred to the incident as "troubling" and "completely unacceptable."
“I also want to assure you that our top priority is supporting students. Social Work support has been made available to the school,” the letter continued.
The TDSB has indicated that it is looking into the allegations and will take further action once the investigation is completed.
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Published By:
Rivanshi Rakhrai
Published On:
Sep 15, 2025
