Parents of kids at Montreal daycare stand up for educators: Letter

MONTREAL – On Wednesday, a photograph of several young children walking with their niqab-wearing educators in Montreal went viral.

The parents of those children released a letter to the media that answered questions and addressed the public outcry after the photo was published on Facebook.

The letter begins:

“This photo leaves in its wake a huge range of comments, some violent (“2 bullets; it’s hunting season, let’s go!”), some Islamophobic (“Let’s burn these women and rape them like pigs!”), some calling for tolerance (“These children look fine and don’t seem affected by the difference”), some ignorant (“These children must have nightmares at night after seeing ghosts all day”).

It continues by describing how the families were introduced to the daycare and its educators:

“…upon visiting the daycare, we were introduced to the whole family. We were able to ask all our questions, including some of the more embarrassing ones.

We were introduced to their philosophy, their vision on educating their children, their gentleness, their kindness, their openness.”

The mothers and children were able to see the faces of the educators (who, to be clear, remove their veil for the entire day in the presence of the children).”

The fathers had to make an additional effort to get past this physical barrier.”

But the trust came. And with that, our apprehensions, our fears, our doubts all quietly faded away.”

It ended with an appeal to Quebecers: “To the people shouting their insults and taking photographs … if you don’t agree with their choices, we beg you: respect them, and our children too.”

Read the letter in full here.