Anti-Israel Bias in NYC Schools Fueled by Foreign Influence and Activist Educators

[Social Media]

 

A new report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) and the advocacy group New York City Public School Alliance claims that foreign actors and activist educators are contributing to anti-Israel sentiment in New York City’s public schools, fostering what they describe as a concerning rise in antisemitism. According to the report, teacher groups like NYC Educators for Palestine have allegedly collaborated with organizations linked to foreign governments and extremist groups to introduce anti-Israel material, which they warn brings “radical, anti-American ideologies” into classrooms.

 

 

Tova Plaut, a pre-K coordinator with the NYC Department of Education (DOE) and co-founder of the NYC Public School Alliance, expressed concerns about the impact of these materials. “The report exposes how the Department of Education’s vetted resources enable radical sympathizers to shape young minds with biased information,” Plaut said. As evidence, the report highlights a controversial map displayed at PS 261 in Brooklyn, funded by the Qatar Foundation, which excluded Israel. The foundation, reportedly tied to Qatar’s ruling family, has donated over $1 million to New York City schools.

 

 

According to the report, this incident reflects broader foreign influence and the spread of “radical” educational content within the city’s schools.

 

The report calls on the DOE to address this alleged bias by conducting a comprehensive review of the curriculum, enforcing existing anti-discrimination policies, and increasing oversight of foreign funding sources. Additionally, it urges the DOE to adopt a formal definition of antisemitism and mandate training for educators to counter such biases. “If these ideas are left unchecked, they will be internalized by a new generation of students, who will then graduate, attend university, vote, enter the workforce, and raise families of their own, further embedding antisemitic beliefs into wider American society,” stated the NCRI and NYC Public School Alliance.

 

Specific examples of alleged bias cited in the report include resources recommended by the DOE, such as the Zinn Education Project. The report claims that Zinn’s materials, used in some schools like Beacon High School, present a skewed view of the Israel-Palestine conflict, describing Gaza as a “graveyard for children” and referring to Hamas as a “political party and militant group.” Critics argue that such descriptions fail to address the full context of the conflict and demonize Israel, a view reportedly shared by some parents.

 

Another group highlighted is Teach Palestine, which provides materials framing Zionism as a “colonialist” movement and emphasizing Palestinian victimhood. Teach Palestine is funded by the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), which has alleged ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group designated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization.

 

One notable event flagged in the report is a webinar hosted by the PTA of Ella Baker School in May, titled “Teach Palestine,” which was sponsored by the educational group Rethinking Schools. Topics included “anti-Zionism is not automatically antisemitism” and “Israel’s attacks on children, schools, and historical memory in Palestine,” material that may conflict with the DOE’s Chancellor’s Regulation A-830, according to the report.

 

In addition, the report mentions school walkouts organized in collaboration with groups like the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), an organization with alleged links to Chinese Communist Party-affiliated entities. These walkouts were part of the Shut it Down for Palestine coalition, which NCRI claims has ties to hostile foreign actors.

 

In light of these findings, the report calls for immediate action to prevent the spread of such ideologies within the school system. In July, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham flagged several entities, including Shut it Down for Palestine, for potential Foreign Agents Registration Act violations, and called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to review their activities. The DOE has yet to comment on the report’s recommendations, although it previously removed the controversial map at PS 261 after initial pushback.

 

Based on a report from the NYP 2024-10-28

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

A new report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) and the advocacy group New York City Public School Alliance claims that foreign actors and activist educators are contributing to anti-Israel sentiment in New York City’s public schools, fostering what they describe as a concerning rise in antisemitism. According to the report, teacher groups like NYC Educators for Palestine have allegedly collaborated with organizations linked to foreign governments and extremist groups to introduce anti-Israel material, which they warn brings “radical, anti-American ideologies” into classrooms.

 

 

Tova Plaut, a pre-K coordinator with the NYC Department of Education (DOE) and co-founder of the NYC Public School Alliance, expressed concerns about the impact of these materials. “The report exposes how the Department of Education’s vetted resources enable radical sympathizers to shape young minds with biased information,” Plaut said. As evidence, the report highlights a controversial map displayed at PS 261 in Brooklyn, funded by the Qatar Foundation, which excluded Israel. The foundation, reportedly tied to Qatar’s ruling family, has donated over $1 million to New York City schools.

 

 

According to the report, this incident reflects broader foreign influence and the spread of “radical” educational content within the city’s schools.

 

The report calls on the DOE to address this alleged bias by conducting a comprehensive review of the curriculum, enforcing existing anti-discrimination policies, and increasing oversight of foreign funding sources. Additionally, it urges the DOE to adopt a formal definition of antisemitism and mandate training for educators to counter such biases. “If these ideas are left unchecked, they will be internalized by a new generation of students, who will then graduate, attend university, vote, enter the workforce, and raise families of their own, further embedding antisemitic beliefs into wider American society,” stated the NCRI and NYC Public School Alliance.

 

Specific examples of alleged bias cited in the report include resources recommended by the DOE, such as the Zinn Education Project. The report claims that Zinn’s materials, used in some schools like Beacon High School, present a skewed view of the Israel-Palestine conflict, describing Gaza as a “graveyard for children” and referring to Hamas as a “political party and militant group.” Critics argue that such descriptions fail to address the full context of the conflict and demonize Israel, a view reportedly shared by some parents.

 

Another group highlighted is Teach Palestine, which provides materials framing Zionism as a “colonialist” movement and emphasizing Palestinian victimhood. Teach Palestine is funded by the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), which has alleged ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group designated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization.

 

 

One notable event flagged in the report is a webinar hosted by the PTA of Ella Baker School in May, titled “Teach Palestine,” which was sponsored by the educational group Rethinking Schools. Topics included “anti-Zionism is not automatically antisemitism” and “Israel’s attacks on children, schools, and historical memory in Palestine,” material that may conflict with the DOE’s Chancellor’s Regulation A-830, according to the report.

 

In addition, the report mentions school walkouts organized in collaboration with groups like the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), an organization with alleged links to Chinese Communist Party-affiliated entities. These walkouts were part of the Shut it Down for Palestine coalition, which NCRI claims has ties to hostile foreign actors.

 

In light of these findings, the report calls for immediate action to prevent the spread of such ideologies within the school system. In July, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham flagged several entities, including Shut it Down for Palestine, for potential Foreign Agents Registration Act violations, and called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to review their activities. The DOE has yet to comment on the report’s recommendations, although it previously removed the controversial map at PS 261 after initial pushback.

 

Based on a report from the NYP 2024-10-28

 

 

 

Anti-Israel doesn't mean  antisemitism.

Many people here and everywhere don't want to make this distinction. 

[john donson]

maybe if USA stopped sending tax payer's money every year in the billions, the local problem over there could finally be solved once and for all ?

[Social Media]

An inflammatory troll post has been removed.

[Bkk Brian]

42 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Anti-Israel doesn't mean  antisemitism.

Many people here and everywhere don't want to make this distinction. 

Who claimed it did? Is it ok to teach your students to be anti Israel? 

 

When a map being used in a school has Israel deleted that's a little more than anti Israel yes? Deleting Israel of the map sounds very much like the Hamas, Iran and other terrorist proxies wishes.

[rickudon]

USA has been drinking the Israel Kool-aid for a 100 years. Time to actually see the issues from the other sides point of view. A more balanced approach is needed.

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, rickudon said:

USA has been drinking the Israel Kool-aid for a 100 years. Time to actually see the issues from the other sides point of view. A more balanced approach is needed.

Not sure how you "balance" with River to the Sea Hamas and Hezbollah.

[Jingthing]

22 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Who claimed it did? Is it ok to teach your students to be anti Israel? 

 

When a map being used in a school has Israel deleted that's a little more than anti Israel yes? Deleting Israel of the map sounds very much like the Hamas, Iran and other terrorist proxies wishes.

Of course it is. No place for such propaganda maps in the schools.

[mdr224]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Of course it is. No place for such propaganda maps in the schools.

Tell that to the extreme left thats infecting public education

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, mdr224 said:

Tell that to the extreme left thats infecting public education

OK. 

[JonnyF]

These far left "educators" need to get back in their lane. 

 

Maybe they could take (not teach) a course on the history of anti-semitism and the atrocities associated with it.