NEW YORK (PIX11) -- New York City public school teachers, parents, and students are demanding answers from Chancellor David Banks, who they claim is failing to tackle an increase in antisemitism in schools.
“There were swastikas drawn on my notebook, death threats made, and vows to finish Hitler’s job were said on the school bus,” said Shayna, a high school senior.
Shayna said she’s been subjected to antisemitic attacks so often, she’s had to switch schools four times. She said she’s sadly gotten used to it.
“I was giving a presentation and people were throwing coins at me, calling me a dirty Jew,” said Shayna. “The administration - which is supposed to be protecting us - is doing nothing about it.”
Shayna was among dozens of students, teachers and parents from the New York City Public School Alliance who believe Banks is failing to adequately address antisemitism in schools.
The alliance’s founder, Tova Plaut, said the group has become the de facto place to report antisemitism. Plaut claims that going through the proper channels does nothing.
“They’re often not followed up, or if they are followed up, they’re often brushed under the rug,” Plaut said about complaints. “There is not a day that goes by where we don’t get at least two or three calls from teachers, educators, students, parents, family.”
The Anti-Defamation League told PIX11 News it did not have specific numbers of reported antisemitic incidents in New York City’s public schools, but did say that it has received a concerned number of school-based biased incidents.
Last week, Banks unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate. It includes instructional resources and training for teachers and staff, prioritizing investigations into allegations of hate, and offering anti-discrimination workshops to parents, among other things.
Banks said there is zero tolerance for bigotry or hate. “No member of our school community should ever feel in danger or attacked,” said Banks.
Article From:
pix11.com
English (US) ·