The Disturbing Transformation of Canada's Schools: Merit Takes a Back Seat to Ideology

April 15 2025,

Picture this: Your talented child, who's spent years mastering their craft in music or athletics, is denied entry to a specialized program not because they lack skill, but because they lost a random lottery. Meanwhile, in their regular classes, math scores are plummeting, reading levels are in free fall, and teachers are spending more time in mandatory diversity training than planning engaging lessons. This isn't a dystopian fiction – it's the current reality in Canada's largest school board, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), where traditional academic excellence has been sacrificed on the altar of progressive ideology. The recent changes implemented by the TDSB offer a chilling glimpse into what happens when educational institutions abandon merit-based standards in pursuit of a radical social agenda.

The Toronto District School Board, Canada's largest school board, has recently come under scrutiny for prioritizing ideological initiatives over academic excellence. A concerning shift in educational priorities has emerged, marked by significant changes that many argue are undermining traditional standards of academic achievement.

In 2022, the TDSB made a controversial decision to replace performance-based admissions in specialty arts and sports schools with a random lottery system. This change, implemented under the banner of equity, effectively eliminated the role of merit and skill in the selection process. Critics argue this has led to a decline in the overall quality of these specialized programs.

The board's focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives has expanded significantly, with the creation of multiple specialized departments including an Equity, Anti-Racism, & Anti-Oppression team and various cultural achievement centers. While these initiatives consume substantial taxpayer resources, academic performance has notably suffered. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment, Ontario students have experienced a dramatic decline in both math and reading skills between 2003 and 2022.

The TDSB's ideological approach extends to historical education as well, with plans to rename schools currently named after significant Canadian historical figures such as John A. Macdonald and Egerton Ryerson. The board cites concerns about colonial history and systemic oppression, though critics argue this approach diminishes students' understanding of Canadian history.

A particularly troubling incident occurred in 2023 involving former TDSB principal Richard Bilkszto, who took his own life following a mandatory DEI session where he faced severe criticism for questioning certain claims about racism in Canada. The subsequent investigation's report remains undisclosed, despite calls for transparency from some board members.

Rather than addressing declining academic performance through proven educational methods, the board continues to expand its ideological initiatives. They've even proposed mandatory DEI certification for all teachers across the province, suggesting an intent to expand these policies beyond Toronto.

The path to improvement seems clear to many educators: return to fundamentals like strict behavioral standards, phonics-based reading instruction, mathematical fundamentals, and knowledge-rich classroom environments. These traditional educational approaches have proven track records of success but have been increasingly sidelined in favor of ideological priorities.

The situation at TDSB serves as a warning about the potential consequences of prioritizing ideological initiatives over academic excellence. The focus needs to return to providing students with the strong educational foundation they need for future success.