Antisemitism in schools

[mids2019]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c623d7z1rxg5o

So sad that the anti semitism brought about by an anti Israel non mentality is now impacting schools and the government is having to act to protect pupils.

Doesn't help when you have people like this teaching in UK schools.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/scottish-teacher-sara-el-awaisi-zios-video-50n2ftcfg

When criticism of Israel is labelled as anti-Semitic and Jew hate, people with half a brain are unable to separate the two. This is the consequence of people trying to protect Israel in that way - many people see Jews and Israel as one and the same.

Muslims are not responsible for Islamic terrorism and it’s outrageous when people expect Muslims to answer for it. It’s no different to Jews. They are not responsible for the genocide and the violence in the West Bank. I wish people would see that.

I would say there is a narrative amongst Islamists that as the Israeli government is elected by Israelis who are predominantly jews sharing a common support for Zionism with Jews globally Jews are all one and the same in terms of 'blame' for civilian deaths in Gaza. The result being a Jewish child in the UK is now a safeguarding risk.

Antisemitism is the fault of antisemites, no one else.

Agree that Muslims are not responsible for Islamic terrorism. Islamists are.

Also Jews - or even Israel- are not responsible for antisemitism in the UK. Antisemitic people are.

Sky News has been leaked many of the 27 recommendations that Sir David makes in his report, which the government is set to accept in full. They include:

• Encouraging schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, and ensuring teachers receive antisemitism awareness training.
• Including antisemitism in schools' online safety and safeguarding policies, and educating young people on contemporary antisemitism.
• Developing media literacy lessons to aid in recognising and confronting online antisemitism and conspiracy theories.
• Strengthening the approach to Holocaust education, ensuring that antisemitism is taught as a central, explicit theme of the atrocity.
• Ensuring modern-day Judaism is comprehensively taught in Religious Education classes, and promoting opportunities to engage with the Jewish community, such as by visiting synagogues and marking Holocaust Memorial Day.
• Making sure that policies on staff behaviour should be clear that antisemitism is not acceptable, and where they experience it themselves, robust reporting and response mechanisms should be in place.
• Strengthening guidance for schools on political impartiality, particularly with regard to geopolitical issues, and schools should consider the appropriateness of political expressions or identifiers.
• Delivering a communications campaign in transport hubs near Jewish schools as part of efforts to deter antisemitism experienced by those students.
• Ensuring school inspectors from Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate can hold schools accountable for the implementation of policies to tackle antisemitism.

https://news.sky.com/story/report-set-to-reveal-vast-scale-of-antisemitism-in-english-schools-13601145

Awful. Hate filled people shouldn't be teaching.

Awful indeed. And how ironic that she’s apparently “co-founder of Educators for Peace” 🙄

Oh dear. Someone needs to have a word about what peace means.

What was the excuse for people hating Jews long before Israel was created? What event immediately preceded the creation of Israel?

Suggesting that people hate Jews because of the actions of some Jews seems to ignore the fact that when people throughout history are looking for a group to hate, somehow it’s always the Jews.

Pretty pissed off but totally unsurprised at a statement from the NEU saying ‘antisemitism is bad but we don’t want to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism’

Daniel Kebede is a disgrace.

https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/neu-responds-bell-review-antisemitism

Agreed

The fact that British Jews feel and ARE unsafe is a national disgrace

Antisemitism is bad but … never a good look.

I can’t imagine any other situation regarding safeguarding and racism in schools that would elicit such an empty response as this

“Young people must have the space to understand and discuss world events. Schools must enable young people to confront difficult issues openly and develop empathy, not drive teachers into silence or leave pupils afraid to express their views. “
In a situation where Jewish children are in a minority ( which is nearly all cases in state schools) then they are the ones who will be most likely to be afraid of expressing their views. This statement says nothing about how schools are going to ensure they feel valued and supported and safe. It prioritises the importance of “discussing world events “ above children’s safety.

It doesn't take long for people to come along and say if the Jews are afforded safeguarding status then other religions and ethnicities should have the same despite the obvious reasons for this guidance.....going to school as a Jew in this country is a risk and that is absolutely unacceptable.

Maybe this is part of having to issue safeguarding guidance....to stop teachers holding lessons where everyone agrees how evil Jews are with their genocide and getting out Palestinian flags.?. I remember arguing about this with someone who wanted children to have 'open discussion' about the Israel-Gaza conflict as it was of current interest (no desire to talk about other conflicts strangely). It seemed a rise to allow protest into the classroom and just further inflame hatred of Israelis and Jews.

Ruse

Yes, I agree. A climate of fear has been created for Jews in the UK. Ironically, this climate of fear is making Jews feel even more defensive about Israel.

So the pro-Palestine lobby have committed a massive own goal by making Jews feel so threatened that they are considering fleeing to Israel.

Old Jewish saying: keep a suitcase by the door.

They are a minority even in some Jewish schools! This statement so spectacularly misses the point British Jewish kids want to be left alone and be allowed not to think about world events, fir a change. And this is the only 'world event' these activist teachers want to talk about!

I think if I had to put money on whether Daniel Kebede would have voted for the Zionism is Racism motion, I would have bet on yes.

He has previously been criticised for chanting globalise the intifada and tbh should be nowhere near advising teachers on how to deal with antisemitism.

“And this is the only 'world event' these activist teachers want to talk about!”
Unfortunately this is true

I am really sceptical about the whole 'let kids debate Gaza because it's immensely topical for their generation thing'. People agitating for such classroom topics aren't interested in children increasing their debating and critical thinking skills by nuanced debate looking at both sides of the argument as part of a history lesson . Those advocating such 'discussions ' are wanting to bring protest into the classroom and allow freedom for teachers to engage in protest without fear of correct disciplinary action. If you are to debate who is going to take the Israeli side? In an incorrect setting they would be subject to serious bullying.

Agreed, its disingenuous.

Is it? Google UK schools support Ukraine and see what comes back. Photo after photo of school children with Ukrainian flags. Seems those 'activist teachers' want to talk about Ukraine too and that wasn't an issue.

Now we are all pretending that that didn't actually happen, that flags in schools and supporting a country that is being blown to pieces is a brand new concept designed specifically by antisemites and it must be stopped because heaven forbid children learn about current affairs and come to the conclusion that blowing up brown Palestinian children is just as wrong as blowing up white Ukrainian children. That's too scary a thought for some to handle apparently.