Staff members at a primary school in Scarborough faced backlash this week over an incident involving the screening of a disturbing video to students. The video reportedly depicted the violent assassination of well-known right-wing figure, Charlie Kirk.
In a letter addressed to parents on Friday, Jennifer Koptie, the principal of Corvette Junior Public School, acknowledged that the video was shown by a staff member during a French immersion class for Grade 5 and 6 students, rather than the assigned homeroom teacher.
According to Koptie, the video was shown in response to students’ inquiries about a recent tragic event in the U.S. While an investigation is pending, she expressed deep concern and condemned the incident as unacceptable.
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during an event on a college campus in Utah on Sept. 10. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old suspect, was arrested in connection with the shooting two days later and is awaiting court proceedings.
Kirk, known as the CEO of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization, was a prominent figure in political circles and a supporter of former President Donald Trump. His assassination marked another violent episode targeting political figures in the U.S.
Following the incident, Corvette Junior Public School has taken swift action in line with its policies. The staff member involved has been relieved of teaching duties pending the investigation, with a priority on supporting the students affected.
The school has also arranged social work support for students and plans to provide additional assistance. Efforts to reach out to Robinson’s representatives for comment were unsuccessful.