Imagine sending your child to school only to find them caught in a political firestorm. That’s the reality for families at Bedford Elementary in Montreal, where an apparent investigation into a toxic school environment has spiraled into a debate over religion and secularism.

Politicians are framing the suspension of 11 teachers as a response to “Islamist infiltration” in public schools and calling for stricter secularism measures. But as Quebec’s leaders seize this moment, the real issues—administrative failures, workplace bullying and a toxic culture that has been festering for years—are dangerously overlooked.

First, an overview of what happened. A government report revealed that a group of teachers, primarily of North African descent, created an abusive environment for students and staff. Allegations included physical and psychological violence, refusal to teach subjects like science and sex education and blocking support services for students with learning disabilities. While a local mosque allegedly influenced some teachers, the report characterized the conflict as ideological, not religious—divergent ideas about pedagogy, governance, and the role of teachers in the school environment. While some educators may have been influenced by the local mosque, the tensions were rooted in differing visions for education and democracy, rather than religious motivations.

Despite this, Quebec politicians were quick to focus on religion. Parti Québécois (PQ) leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon claimed the case illustrated religious infiltration in public schools. Premier François Legault expressed shock that teachers were allegedly introducing Islamic concepts to students, and called for more robust secularism measures and expanding Bill 21.

However, this politicization is not only disingenuous—it is dangerous. We have not even heard from the suspended teachers themselves and politicians are already stoking fear and resentment.

What is being overlooked by many in this debate is that both of the so-called “clans” in the school’s staff included individuals of North African descent and Muslim faith as well as others. As the report notes: “It is important to emphasize that although the majority clan [who were responsible for the alleged problematic behaviour] is mainly composed of people of Maghrebi origin, people of other origins are also associated with it,” the report said. “The minority clan is also partly composed of individuals of Maghrebi origin, including some who are strongly opposing the majority clan.”

The conflict at Bedford was not about religion—it was a clash of ideologies and educational philosophies.

According to Samer Majzoub, president of the Canadian Muslim Forum, one of the suspended teachers is a Buddhist, allegedly accused of doing his prayers in the classroom, while another teacher, a non-hijabi Muslim, was criticized for discussing Ramadan. Ironically, the complaint in this case came from another Muslim family. This transcends Islam and religion entirely.

Majzoub said that broad-brush rhetoric coming from politicians only creates unnecessary fear. “It creates tension that no one will benefit from. When public officials speak, they should reflect on the implications of what they say.” 

Despite these realities, political leaders continue to exploit the situation to fuel a broader debate about religion in public schools. This risks inflaming social tensions. The recent riots in the U.K., ignited by misinformation and stoked fears, offer a stark warning of how quickly societal tensions can escalate when political leaders stoke fears over religion and immigration.

The Bedford Elementary case shows how local issues are co-opted for political gain. By focusing on religion, politicians divert attention from the real issues: workplace bullying, administrative failures, and poor leadership that allowed a toxic environment to fester. The government’s report highlighted severe teacher misconduct and lack of oversight, but these structural problems have been overshadowed by framing the issue as religious extremism.

This rhetoric is not only misleading but harmful. Quebec’s Muslim community, already marginalized by laws like Bill 21, faces further stigmatization as politicians push for stricter secularism measures. This scapegoating deepens divisions and distracts from necessary education reforms.

Samaa Elibyari, co-president of the Montreal chapter of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, told the Canadian Press that the real issue is a lack of proper teacher training and support. Similarly, human rights expert Louis-Philippe Lampron criticized the government’s focus on secularism, arguing Quebec already has the tools to address religious issues. The real scandal is that Bedford’s toxic environment persisted for so long without intervention.

The Bedford controversy shows how easily political rhetoric can exploit local tensions in today’s polarized climate. Such divisive rhetoric fuels social unrest and deepens community fractures. Quebec’s leaders must move beyond fear-based politics and focus on creating safe, supportive schools—the real danger lies in ignoring these systemic failures.