October 7 of last year. [inaudible conversations] ladies and good morning. Welcome to the nations capital. The subcommittee on Early Childhood elementary and secondary education will come to order. A quorum is present. Without objection, the chair is recess at any time. The holocaust ended in 1945. The hate to behind it has not. Antisemitism ephe topic of todays hearing is particularly troubling. Its hard to grasp how antisemitism has become such a dominant force in our k12 schools. Some kids as second grade are spewing nazi propaganda which begs who has positioned these young minds to people. The very need for this hearing is a travesty. The aftermath of october 7 has revealed some most deprived ideas. Once marginalized from society and our Education System has failed to stop it. Its not just antiisrael its antiamerican. Antiamerican. Its antidemocracy. Our Witnesses Today represent three of the witnesses represent some of the Largest School districts in the nation where theres been some vital antisemitism in their districts. Just a few minutes ago we heard from students, parents and even a teacher who said this is happening without an appropriate or any response all. Jewish students in their districts fear riding the just eating and breathing as a jewish student. Hear from the leaders of the districts to tell us what are you doing what are they doing to keep students safe. New york city, ae the largest most vibrant Jewish Community and thehe stories coming out of the new york city Public Schools are reports that we have, march class one student was called a nazi salute and swastikas were drawn on the teachers walls in one week. Antisemitism within montgomery Public Schools, and its close to home its just 15 miles from here. Mc ps has been home to student walkouts featuring calls to kill the jews, bring hitler back and whats worse the administrators approved excused absences for the walkouts in violation of policy and finally Berkeley Unified School distri National Spotlight and perhaps the most public fashion of the group, the allegations are most serious. While not exhausted the details of the beast includes kids nazi salute songs to their jewish class. What are you and how can we stop this . Youve been accused of doing nothing and turning a blind eye. Give you a chance to say exactly what youre doing and what are you doingeep students safe. Middle and High School Students or hard eugard enough being a kid in middle and high School Without the added fea jewish. I can hardly fathom sending one of my suns to school exposed to the vile yet parents are faced every day with this struggle. It doesnt have to be this way. This is the moment for all of us to take a stand against hate, the indoctrination of the next generation of future leaders and with that i yield to the Ranking Member for her opening statement. Thank you very much mr. Chairman. There is no question we must do more to combat antisemitism not just in schools, bu everywhere. We must do more to protect jewish students into Jewish Americans who are threatened and harassed and attacked because of who they are. Every student deserves to feel safe and be safe atoo the same time we must do more to address the rise in islam a other forms of discrimination and hates well. Ive said many times i hope the committee can Work Together on ways to address the scourge of antisemitism, and i will express that again today that we Seek Solutions that recognize the seriousness and scope the challenge, the importance of keeping students safe at school,e need to balance the civil rights of students to be free from discrimination under title vi of the Civil Rights Act with the First Amendment rightree speech and expression. This is the Education Committee and i hope the Important Role of education and importantly fact, at the top of the list on the biden administrations u. S. National strategy to combat antisemitism is to increa schoolbased education about antisemitism including the holocaust in american heritage. Antisemitism is not a n problem. The adl the Antidefamation League has been working on they have a center for Antisemitism Research. The American Jewish committee has an action plan with a toolkit for pubchool administrators. Lesson plans and other teaching materials are widely available through organizations like the u. S. Holocaust memoria like new york and several other states my home state holocaust and genocide study with ageappropriate i remember my late friend holocaust survivor in his 80s andold his story of survival to hundreds of audiences and univers colleges, middle schools and high schools places of worshipd clubs. Personally and through his book from a name to a the kind of unforgettable education that makes a difference a blessing. I also want to its important for leaders to stand up to antisemitism no matter where it comes from. Many of my colleagues claim to care about the rise in this country but when they march in Charlottesville Virginia with burning porches into chantingjews will not replace us, the president at the time, donald fine people on both sides. One of the participants that unite was nick fuente a vile antisemite who among other statements denied of the scope of the holocaust while comparing jews exterminated in concentration camps being baked man oven. Former President Trump posted him in november of 22. General john kellyresident trumps chief of staff and sta favorably about hitler including that he had done some goo ago he said quote any jewish person that votes for democrats hates their religion. Despite of these psi examples of comments that others have called antisemitic and relationships ive notord from colleagues across the aisle. In fact what we have seen thisconsolidation of support. If my colleagues care about condemn and denounce these comments from the lea of their party so i will offer up my colleagues on the other side of the aisle the opportunity to thesements i look forward toon today with the hope that we could have a constructive dialogue about hht back against antisemitism so all students can be safe and feel safe at school whether it is a k12school college or university and i yield back the balance of my time. Pursuant to the rule all that do so by submitting them to the. Open for 14 days after the date of the hearing to low such statements and other materials referenced to be submitted f the official record. I there are members colleagues that are not a p subcommittee who may be waving for the purpose hearing. And now lets get to the introductions of the distinguished panel. The first witness is the chancellor of tk city Public Schools where the new York City Department of york new york. The new York City School is the largest system in the nation. Appointed by mayor eric adams on january 1, 2022 but he started his career as a School Safety officer after which he began his first teaching job at Public School 167. He serves as an assistant principal at 191 before becoming a school for law government and justice. Hes graduate of the Public School system. He holds bachelors degree from Rutgers University and earned Johns University of law. The second witness is carla who is the president of the Montgomery County board of education for the schools and rockville maryland to get elected to term on november 8th, 2022 she is serving a second term as the president of the board board of education policy experience began at the university of pennsylvania where she worked at the collaborative for Science Education working as a Teacher Professional Development and handson science educatist philadelphia schools. She served as Vice President or children and youth for the link nonprofit for the preventative school year and youth progra universitys with a bachelors degree in biology and received degree in education from the university of pennsylvania. Greetings from the sunshine state. We are glad to see w you are. Lets yield for the introduction of a witness. I welcome tonior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties on the Privacy Technology project. Among other things previously served as a legaldvisor for africa from Stanford University a M Public Affairs from the Princeton School of public and International Affairs and the doctorate from the welcome. The final witness superintendent of the Berkeley Unified School district into berkel california. And the urban educator and Community Activist with over 21 years of experience. Aside from serving asperintendent of Berkeley Unified School district, she is a professor senior lecturer at the urban education at Loyola University and is active in the Community Serving as a board n member for organizations such as 826 valencia and othon organizations with missions aligned to hers. Shes a proud member of delta sigma welcome to the witnesses we t to your testimony pursuant to the Committee Rules i would ask that you limit each of your oral presentations to five minutes. At the summary of your written statements, your full written statement is in the record,js j tttjsesmi tthli eotteum tmeonyaabyoss ht k tro er we have a robust protections for the freespeech rights the not lose your constitutional he right to hold your opinions to share your opinions so long as they are in the bounds of the school context. But the school must ask it. As i said when i hostile educational environment and so a lot of what we are dealing withtoday how have schools respond in the situations . Is the husband of a Public School teacher of the parent i understand that when they make mistakes we dont send them to the room we try to help them understand what they have done wrong. The infective had on others try to figure how to make the people who have been harmed feel a whole. Change behaviors in the future. I no good teachers and administrators across the country during now. This is the everyday work of schools while also making them safe if it clicks you believe listening to testimony of your fellow panelists today that theyre doing that . I can oume theyre doing their best. I find it interesting that of the committee are prejudging as forinstance a case in barkley the same family of a court case in new york people complain about being prejudging that one. I think really what i hope comes out of this conversation today and continues in the spirit of is that we all again say hatred in any form. It is simply unacceptable for the nine states congress. Alluded here to the as they are. Theres something wrong with them we would work tog that. Thank you mr. Chair yelled back with us and give it much representati5uve the great state of california. Representative kylie is recognized for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chair. O im sorry im having trouble reading your lesson, ford . Yes i dont know we answer to you as to whether theres been any professors terminated at your school. Conduct because the answer was im not able to speak about personal matters what i can say to you is we investigate every complaint and concern thoroughly that. He tells in general is they settlement term in a quite a pleasant journal i cannot speak about personal matters like i cand to follow up and take action aggressive pressure your collie gave us an answer for. Because i respect im not going to be able to do that back let you know again any issue comes up we investigated and pending the outcome of that investigation we do take action. This actions range of a. Thank you. You give us a statement here testimony is that any suggestion or assertion ust that is your distr is false. However the Brandeis Center o defamation leg filed a complaint read from that release summarizing within incidents include students repeatedly hearing antisemitic comments in classr s the jews nunc jewish is asking jewish dudes with their number is referring to numbers tattooed on jews during the holocaust. Jewish students being for their physical appearance and demonized as evil. They do antisemitic class grants teacher promoter walkouts that praise hamas and second rate teacher classroom activity or children writing stop bombing babies on sticky notes to display in the building. Jewish students report violence including being jumped at school many said they remove their stars tshirts they wanting to keep their heads down to hide their judeo is him and with those school dayshisschooldays in fear but s less to pervasive bullying. Pare incidents to the administration hostile environment. Antisemitism ive ever seen before said Kenneth Marcus chairman of the Brandeis Center former u. S. Assistant secretary of education. Any assertion the question is if youre not willing to acknowledge the problem likely because it is being adequately addressed . You can be confident they are in my schools every day in thehools, in the classrooms with the babies. I am very clear has been incidents of insight cynicism in barkley Unified School District district but every single time we are aware of such an instance we take action up we take appropriate action. Can i ask about israel palestine correct and thats been introduced in some classes in the wake of october 7. Do you approve this curriculum cluster. We do have controversial policies Student Interest we did have a group of teachers who try to create lessons to respond to the moment. And engage our students for. But you approved it . You approve the curriculum . That the tedious grady yes for. With the slides that break them said for some palestinians withfor the river to the sea is a call for freedom and peace. An cited support a quote from congresswoman who is censured by this body in a bipartisa appropriate thing to have on the side for students . Expose on the side again question except for some pal since the verb to the sea is a call for freedom and or fragment p student thats appropriate . We deafly believe its it important to expose our students to diversity of ideas and perspectives it. As a perspective it is you do . I mean you said earlier that this is antisemitic. You put this on a slide in the class and the students go around it. I dont have the same thing surprising about that. About the ethics study curriculum you have. You contract with the group called the liberate Ethnic Studies Consortium is that righ yes. This consortium as i understand it grew out of the initial group to form californias active career in the version was universally condemned antisemitic. Fourteen members of legislature all democrats that its difficult to fathom why the state of california a narrative about jews that echoes the propaganda of the nazi regime. Even gavin newsom said the curriculum was offensive and so many wayser see the light of day. So it was revised. Ethnic Study Consortium they split off and the groups are going to stick with the version that the version you went out and decided to have in your classroom is that right question. Is incorrect congressman i thank you for the opportunity to clarify. Barkley unified school is not just curriculum liberate Ethnic Studies Consortium. In fact are ethnic study curriculum is created in house if you will but we p with a scienceus iam start maybe i misunderstood you contract with liberate pickwick slip liberated as a thought partner. Our Teacher Center staff and her y Committee Members actually create a curriculum. Were not purchasing or buying any curriculum from the ethnic studies but i do not understand between a soft partner work with liberate ethnic studies is one of two experts in the f of ethnic studies barkley Unified School District evaluated to partner our curriculum units being created in partnership with community members. Thank you very much my time is expired i will say mr. Chair you specifically with a group whose work product was rejected california. Its become rampant perfect gentlemexpired pickwick signature yelled back with her thank you very much for the great state of new representative your records for five minutes or. Thank you very much for your bed to become chancellor brady background is not only in School Safety you are also a classroom teacher and you are also the founder regarded high schools for the school of law government and justice in the school in the bronx as well, the Eagle Academy for young men. I want you to speak to us briefly about the curriculum to address theemitism in all hates. Please be as concise as possible because i have more questions asked. Shortly thank you so much for the quest number one comment teaching but the holocaust first of all as required by new york state support. We cover the holocaust in grades eight, 10, 11 are social studies curriculum as well as a range of r including literature like the diary of anne frank. And many other literary pieces. We are also not on the holocaust resource guide. Which is going this fall in collaboration with the museum of jewish heritage. The thing that we are super excited about is we are developing a very robust, comprehensive curriculum for a new curriculum to be about a year before itso go. That is going to cover the entire range of jewish history. Children need to understand deeply about the history of the people antisemitism could separate ship that that was going to my suggestion jewish htory did not start the holocaust. The entire history of persecution our kids need to learn about there is also part of history where the jewish people and muslims a harmony in the middle east into her parts of the world but i want to suggest you teach that is part of the curriculum as well. Mr. Sykes can you talk about the distinction of antisemitic speech and speech that expresses solidarity with palestinians or onflate the two . Has spoken out against the anti semitism awareness act not because of any problem and that semitism Awareness Office a bit because it incorporatedf antisemitism that includes criticism of israel. Just as it is totally legitimate to criticize the u. S. Government are u. S. Government officials without necessarily casting on any particular governments of israel certainly subject to criticism just like all others. Where that goes into ethnic based hatred or targeting of particular individuals obviously schools and committees can and should respond. The right to dissent against our government and others is core to free speech for. Thank you so much. Ill just have a close and to make thank you all for being here and thank you for your testimony. Thank you for your clarity around when you identify antisemitism you swiftly and decisively because it needs to be condemned and need to be handled accordingly but i appreciate you all for being here and sharing that with us. What i am going to ask of you because i have been very disturbed by some of the language that is come from the other side of the aisle. Language around teaching hate. Our teachers in our schools are not teaching hate. The majority of them but and 9. 9 teachers make mistakes. Teachers need to be educated and disciplined when necessarythey do make those mistakes. Yes or no question just going down the line mr. Banks. Can wheat fighting in antisemitism and other forms of not only can we, we must do. Yes. Yes. Of course. Yes. So it is really important because it is also been reports onand the rise of islam a phobia in new York City Schools and across the country. You all agree with that . Yes or no. Yes. Yes. 0 yes. Yes make the same sexism still exist in our society quester. Absolutely for. Yes. Because of course. Yes request is antiblack racism still exists in our society question. Absolutely request a guess. Yes. Yes. Must fight hate in all its forms at the same time. I have members of Congress Talking about teachers teaching hate. None of them have an education backgr way. Which of my teachers teaching hate too. I work in when you go in the rotunda and look at American History you7 see see is coming in and taking over america from the native there is no reference to the black people who built this country and our rotunda. Talk to you about teaching hate to type black statues tie black statues are in the capitol . Three. You have any confederate statues there are in capitol 12. I work in institution that teaches hate and our policy. Educators who lament doing yet or scolding u. S. You as educators are doing exemplary job spreading its hate in the school so thank you for your work please contino educate us. Will stand the state of new york representative williams or recognize her five minutes for. Think thinking mr. Chairman. Thank you for holding this critically important timely hearing. I believe it is the moral issue of our was elected to Congress Less than two years ago i was the violenc against synagogues jews, and jewish institutions is on the rise. In march of last year what are my first legislative acts, right here in this very room i introduced at a memo to house bill number five requiring and quote it is my sense of congress all school and secondary School Students should have the opportunities to learn the history of holocaust and antisemitism. All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. Seven months before therific events this committee had the opportunity to speak up and take steps to prevent the growth of antisemitism by educating our every single one of my democratic colleagues voted agmendment. Every single one. We submit to the Voting Results for the record. Now come out of the other sides of their mouths they pretend to be outraged at they nothing. October 7 hamas announcesn israel. Mr. Banks, kids in your School District out that he is okay to have open season schools. Instead of a reduction antisemitic events in your schools, and that wake of this profound immorality of the holocaust like a massacre of jews we have seen an explosion of shocking antisemitic you are leaning in on combating antisemitism. Have the episodes of a rape and murder of october 7 been presented to your students of examples of jew hatred . Absolutely hate hated segments on october 7 antisemitic theyve been taught now and our schools and continued to be taught across many of our schools. Of the former principal at a salary from nerve city public nerves city Public Schools today . Yes he is. And so i can say that again . Ocs he is very. [inaudible] but how can jewish students feel safe at new york city publi schools when you cannot manage to terminate the principal of openso school. Or even endorse of student harassments . How can jewish students go towing he is still on your payroll put your but your payroll sorg excited was payroll it is this not open season on jut schools called Hillcrest High School thats the name of the school. About schoo we considered his leadership not stronger be the leader in that school. He could no longer. He still strong to participate in your school distrin your payroll . It is unlike the leader of the scope or. Is a Strong Enough of a leaders greater payroll . You are endorsing him to on your payroll. Because he has the moralauthority to lead to students . Is that what youre saying . I just said pick which you are saying he still is the moral authority to be. Us out i said thats what you say park thats what i said your justifying continued employment. Im could that be . Every employee works in our school h rights the comments. [laughter] due process request we do not the authority books there are egregious crimes. [inaudible]ay. Repair. Of ultimate works on a School System for. There are egregious crimes that couldnt can been committed under your watch. We have one minute remaining to speak directly to the jewish students in new york city. Think of this, as jewish studentsol tomorrow morning what can we say question what should they say to their children to allay their childrens fears . How should they reassure their children antisemitic nightmare hand to the quick site speak to jewish parents for. Spe rolling right here speak to them now. I speak to jewish teachersies every day. Cooks what you say . When i say to them as we do everything we can to ensure your child or you even as a teacher are going to be safe. We dont always get it right. Part of the risen help at Hillcrest High School i consider a lack of proper supervision and that School Principal was removed from the school. Teachers and at school or unsafe we remove the leader perfects my time has much they are comforted. That this nightmare is over progress s im go to the great state of connecticut representativerepresentative hayes is recognized for five minutes. Think you think itswitnesses for being here today to testify. I would just like to say i agree wi colleagues those who have committed a egregious crimes should not have the moral authority to lead a school or a also as an educator i do not know what people think it is that teachers do. I do people think it is that teachers inside of a classroom or people who choose this as a profession, do. An unprecedented rise in antisis schools. We have had multiple hng committee on the antisemitism. But, as an adjective educator i remind you we have to teach children all forms of hate are unaccele. I listen to my colleague in it on the list of everything we deal with that teachers deal with in the schools. And i remember the only parallel i h classroom right now. But i remember after September September 11 we need some professional development on the muslim experience i need to build a support our students make otherpicture other students understand their perspective. We had parents come in describing this sort this holiday means is that ad students coming in and say this is why i wear it. Doing a deep dive in helping students to understand the background and perspective of their peers. We are doing a disservice to students if we are not teaching them about the background and perspectives of all people. Teachers have an impossible social economic background into reating a space where all students feel safe. I really hope that on this committee that we spend some really looking at whats happening in our classroom. Harder to hate someone that you know. Its a lot harder to diminish or devalue summons experience when you know what it means. Or why a person practices a certain religion. According to researchr Antisemitism Research there is a directen deficiencies in Holocaust Education heightened prejudicial anti somatic beliefs. In your testimony you mention yourmentionedyour district is taking affirmative steps to address antisemitism and other forms of hate for curriculum for k12d on topics road to the jewish experience. Can you tell us a little bit done to enhance the curriculum think the teaching of this education is important . And before you answer this committee not voting but congress is not set curriculum, you dear. Can you let us know what you have done to make sure students understand the jewish experience . Yes it curriculum teaching and learning is the breadandbutter of what we know how to do well. We have been looking to have social studies curriculum better reflect our student population. We have enhance the jewish experience education going younger. Going into the elementary grades. Trading teacher so they can implement holocaust teaching in sixth grade. In my statement for the first time we are having hateting for all staff 25000 employees in a School System. For students to understand why a Statement Like from the river to the sea palace site will be free could be harmful toome of their peers. For whyor why displaying a map and a classroom that does not have the state that israel could be hurtful a antisemitic to because thats what kids are they are friends around them. Role is to educate them on the histories that they can understand why our jewish students might find that anti anti thank you. Miss ford, it was not your testimony was actually mr. Banks testimony where talked about we cannot suspend or expel our way out of this can you talk to us about some of the direct actions you have things do occur . It is meant my expense as an educizepeat what they heard from other people and really do not understand the consequences or the history behind what they are saying oroing. Yes, think for the opportunity to respond i appreciate you say that first and foremost we do believe our role is to educate. We engage our student make sure everyone can evaluate and reflect on their actions and their words to think about their intent and also to think about the impacts of we assist educators a lot. Ieve in restorative conversation so that students it with their peers who they have hurt or cause har to hear from them and their perspective about what happened or why it was hurtful. All these are efforts to again change and redirect incorrect and of course education we talk to students about history. How and why for example the term you just use might be hurtful to other students with at we believe is the way to change behavior for that long but not a shortterm solution but one that could actually keep up with thems they get older think of them is a gentle it is time has expired will go to the state of new york again representatives to phonic is recognized for five minutes request thank you very much mr. Chair. Mr. Banks, the sort many on hillcrest i just want to make sure it is very clear for record, the principal of Hillcrest High School is still employed by the department of education correct . Corrected. What is his role . He is serving in a role working on one of the teams under one of the deputy chancellors. Im told hes director of Teacher Development and evaluation is that accurate . O not know his official title i would have to double check tha for. That is concerning to me you have him in a senior position what is very concerning about these hearings is we are getting a lip service but a lack of enforcement a lack of accountability these rules and policies and matter whether its teachers administrators or students filing the rules. I want to switch to Origin High School i students march through origin high sch chanting death to israel and kill the jews in addition ind found that a teacher who teaches a global told by a student quote i wish you were killed. Another student called her quote a dirty jew. The student s hitler could have hit more juice including her. Disciplinary action were taken against the students who chanted death to israel at Origins High School . And against the student who with antisemitic slurs that teacher . Ask two things. And our investigation we have found no evidence there is any movement through the halls sang death to the jews and i treat that very, very seriously. That was reported in the papers we have found no evidence that actually happens. What we have found art deeply troubling antisemitic things that happened at Origins High School this is the one that has troubled m the most i will tell you that. Or the Enforcement Actions in fact suspended a number of students at that school butrently this a case now is under litigation i a not to speak to the specific things that have happened i visited that school after these allegations have come up i met with parents family, Staff Students im deeply troubled what happened there were going to the bottom of it i cannot say more because it is now under li understand our concern as policymakers when we have university penn, harvard our new york city chancellor when e is a lack of enforcement and accountability that there is a set of rules for individuals who violate those rules are not held accountable. Weve held a lot of people accountable you want to hear in and again my opening statement. But a principal it turns out the former principal progressive never sapphprojects you can protect the testimony. Set yet the principle of who question whats hillcrest i never sapphire the prince what you check the record i never said that i will check the reco weve moved for bugs mr. Banks for i never sapphire the part you said say has he been fired you said yes. I did not. Still employed by the department of education. Cookies no longeras been removed from his position of the school. Ow is employed at department of education you testified to that. And he also said we have been told hes director of Teacher Development evaluation. You not sure if thats the case our expectations will get an answer by the end of today the thats a case or not but she will absolutely. Quick question multiple teacher led anti israel walkouts during school time. What are the consequences for the teacher walkouts . To those of violate kouts of students out of school several of her high schools which also is very troubling for me. What action is taken in that case . A childs we have in that case is we do n h rules within our code of conduct that would prevent a child from actually walking out of the school when they walk out of the school the they are essentially cutting from school. There c aoncutting school your testimony today theres no teacher involvement in those walkouts . Because independent media report say there is teacher involhose walkouts. I do not have any evidence of that we have evidence of a where the principal cited teacher to go with a student completely inappropriate. That principle was discipline the teacher was disciplined in that particular case. Was a form of the discipline . Excitement not liberty to tell you its very specific they were not fired we have a those cases we did take action. My last q is you had a teacher at Gotham Tech High School in queens. Youve spoken out publicly against this he posted images of a hamas paraglider to a social media repeatedly refers to sows call israel again highlighting r who slaughtered jews weve all seen the horrific footage who cooked babies what disciplinary was taken against this teacher . Mexican action was taken but first i just want say i think with that employee did aptly disgusts me. Absolute. What action question. We took activex was the action questioner because the connectivity specifics on the action project issue are you are in congress what is the action . I cannot give you on this specific employee of a. You can give us pathogens like time is expiring where or you choose not to is unacceptable. Your time is expiring this go to the great commonwealth of virginep scott very good lets go to the great state of North Carolina representative manning are recognized. Mr. Chair. I would like to set the record straight mr. Mentioned followed the failure of every republican on this committee to vote for my amendment to prohibit the banning of books on the ust. Which i offered because schools in many states are banning books like anne frank which is an incredible tool for teaching students the perils of discrimination soap mr. Banks i was pleased to hear that your schools are still teaching the diary of anne i am pleased to hear your description of the training to teachers are getting to infuse your k12 schools with teaching and why it is so dangeroust to choose for jews but to our whole society. Can you talk about the resources you used to train yisemitism . Seven number of resources what and foremost as unitas against eight and of every site unite against the hate month and have a number of resources that equip our educators with facilitating conversations with our students about what hate is. What it looks like and the impact hate andhe fact barkley unified we stand firmly againstheche. Wes of number of curricula on social Emotional Learning curriculum for students to talk about harassment and bullying. How to be an ally just have to be ingrades particularly tenth grade educators do have curriculum on the holocaust to the point of a previous congressman that is not the beginning or the end of the story of jewish peoples we also integrate curriculu throughout her grade levels with tech and reading about the richness of the jewish herit jewish culture in our schools. Generally make sure is their approach to teaching is about centering diverse ideas and the needs of the students in bringing those ideas to that they can engage in the critical conversations and come to choose an understanding on their own for. Thank you parliament suggests the u. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has many readily available resources to teach about the holocaust and history of antisemitism bread they are made specifically for k12 classrooms. They are Available Online they can attend during the summer. It is a wonderful i highly recommend using u. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in fact ive introduced a bipartisan bill countering antisemitism act which includes internet opportunities and frankly obligations for schools across the count to work with the u. S. Holocaust Museum Teaching antisemitism. Teaching what hate does to all of us. I hope that all of my colleagues on this committee will cosponsor my countering antisemitism acted as a bipartisan bill. It is important my colleagues on this committee to more than talk before the cameras about antisemitism and actually sign a bill like the countering antisemitism act so we can do something and build the structures to combat that. An important pilla of the u. S. National strategy to combat antisemitism which was issued dent biden an important issue literacy. We know many students are exposed to harmful misinformation online every bite social media. Which in many cases has inflamed tensions and led to antisemitic incident. In fact a i recently viewed a video on tiktok that was probably the mos heard. A young person talking it is appropriate to hate jews. Like to ask each of you how are your schools teaching young people to check their sources. To beat sabic criti consumers of online contents. Because that is one way hate is being spread and mr. Banks star is a very, very complicated issue. We have a social media policy every one of our schools is their level of literacy so that they understand how they critically do these issues thats easier said than done. What we are seeing in our schools and in many of the cases of antisemitism are a result of young people not fully developing the ability to process what theyre saying on social an emotionally responding to that in a way. Particularly students of muslim and arabic background are seeing it happening themselves. And are responding to that. T is my understanding sociaacy is taught her health curriculum. And also as all of our classes for. Think id encourage all of you to do it you can defer how to teach art students to be critical thinkers maybe they will teach their parents to be critical thinkers think its not your testament i y think it was great state of michigan representable your records for five minutes. Think the channel chairman think the pampering had to leave us speaking a quick lunch and fromer education institutions. Its important time to speak to well. I was not here for the question i colleague asked about the principal at hillcrest. We checked our selves after hearing your response mr. Banks seeing some of the room shaking their head this person was not as a princem in the new york Education System. We came to find information this person went to the new York Department of education and my correct on that . Question that. The principal from hillcrest oved. Did was not just transfether school in the system. Right to progress want to check on that i this that was of he went to the new York Department of education as i understand it. Y olivers entire department of education with other administrators for. That concerns me this guy is still in education new y when he had an egregious response at hillcrest. That clear to make sure i understood as well. Suit he was school to be still in education in new york. Looks that worries me. I understand. Following the attack on israel october 7 the nations institution of Higher Education been rocked by antisemitic protests. In direct harassment of jewish students. While the critical eye must be placed on teachings and policies at these institutions, we cannot overlook k12 system. So thanks for holding this hearing today. In fact we know teachers that have been trained in our Higher Education be change agents in the world our inner k12 system they have been havent for years and been trained to be anti somatic themselves. Critical theories that have been trained in presser and oppression and important as well american. So it is a challenge that we have to look in the but during this developmental phase the students are to grasp the different surveyed rightwrong. And critically begin to realize that other people have their own ight not match theirs. If we fail students at the scholastic phase it is no wonder we singraising the levels of intolerance and violence are rhetoric later in their studies and even our k12 system. I r educators to the holocaust experience to help educate their udents about the realities of the holocaust and antisemitism history. And i encourage our institutions to look into that training. I would like to oppose for our educators in the room this one question and answer as briefly as possible. What have youeach Critical Thinking and classrooms and promote reason and the underpinnings of moral and civil behaviors that mitigate hate . Being respectful, brave open and aware to different perspectives being flexible and sensitive. So what the Unified School District and we teach them to critical consumers and to evaluate and analyze the information coming a number of perspectives so they can make decisions on their own. We hope to see the impact of that in an exemplary way. I am teacher or principal or superintendent myself. Its my understanding that we follow this curriculum we have a comprehensive curriculum that Critical Thinking throughout offering multiple perspectives so that students can see history and facts rough different perspectives. Thats my understanding. Thinking starts with a very significantond that to the projectbased learning4. I would stand to defend we have some and we deal with it. I would stand with you the gentlemans time has expi to the great commonwealth of virginia you are recognized. Mr. Chairman, earlier in the hearing a gentleman raised questions about the commitment to fight antisemitism. I just remind him after it was pointed out the context after the old rights rally we asked and couldnt get it on other forms. Can you talk about other forms of hate . Hate rears its head every single day. The history of racism as well this is something that is ever present as the ch the of the schools, the work that we see t are cast aspersions that are cast against asian it is no end to the scourge of hate so thats why i say antisemitism doesnt simply affect jews. Antisemitism affects all of us particularly all people of goodwill. So i not only against antisemitism, i stand up against other forms of hate. You cant put them in silos. Way that we can be responsible about how we are going to approach this. I have a responsibility to be the champion and the chancellofor everybody. Just as an aside is it your practice to determine facts and sanctions based on media reports were due process . Is that for me . Thats fo we are responsible just because something was written on the front page of a tabloid doesnt make it true so we have to investigate. We do it responsibly and move of those situations on a casebycasend you indicated what do you mean can you say more about that . If we care about solving for antisemitism, and i believe this deeply its not about having gotcha moment this. Its about teaching. Youo raise the consciousness and the challenge we have is a system is that we do have some adults that bring their own bias figure out how we unpack all of it at the same time. But the ultimate answer is to teach, to expose people to the ty so that they understand our common humanity. And i would ask my colleagues across the nation and quite frankly to put the call out to actn to bring us together to talk about how we this convening for too many people across america and education it feels like the ultimate gotcha moment. Seem people were trying to solve for something i think we should be doing everything we can to solve four. Rd anything about the context of any of these events, the seriousness of the problem whether theres antisemitism or the war in gaza. Can you say another word about how it is so hard to whether or not expressions are protected under the first a violation of the code or violation of title vi or campus policy . These are all situations evaluatedased on the totality of the circumstances. They are worried that we might agree here but we also understand certain words dependon how they are used, when they are used, to whom and how often sed. All of those are relevant to determining whethe protected or creating a hostile work education environment. And i would add onto the question about how to promote to a variety of ideas one of the things we are doing is fighting against bands on increasing education. This is started by an executive order by the former president and has now been copied and pasted in multiple states. Now living under an education gag order where certain ideas are being prohibited from is the epitome of trying to crack down on Critical Thinking so we think this legitimate threat needso be addressed urgently as well. Thank you very much and representative scott. Lets go to North Carolina where the chair of the Education Workforce committee is doctor ognized for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairn and i want to thank the witnesses for being here ask you to pull the microphone a little closer to your mouth. Ring you before. You said in your statement, quote our policy is to initiate the investigation when we witness particular antisemitic hate filled racist language or actions on average how long does each ant take . I dont have an exact number weeks. Our victims alwaysified of the results . Will you pledge to notify people investigation . We are working on improng the communications and let the victims know to have more information about what the outcome has been. Workin it, okay. Superintendent your submitted testimony that you are, quote excited about the new studies law n the curriculum with a slanted perspective of the israel palestine conflict. For example it teaches the consequences for palestine are quote whereas the c are ceremonies put on hold, travel advisories in citys shutdown. Donk that is the representation of thet . I do not think that is a fair representation. Ou consulted with jewish groups considering how you would teach ethnic studies . I want to distinguish the you are speaking about in the curriculum the lessons were created in response to a lot of curiosity and questions and confusion from many of the students wanting to know what was going on so we had a group of history teachers and social studies teachers creating lessons in response to that. That is distinguished from the ethnic studies curriculum. Weve talked abo the map the Cultural Arts program at the school where the map has been foundation a nonprofit owned by the family. The free press found they donated over 1 million to the new York Department of education from 2019 to 2022 from materials such as the snap, you know the map im about. Israel does not exist. Does vetted the materials purchased by the fun for antisemitism and if not will you commit to establish tools so that foreign entities unfriendly to israel are not stocking yourstalking your classrooms with antisemitic content . Yes and we do that torials. That map was not a result of the foundation that is what she told us so it wa of the resources but we do read all ofhe other resources that come to the schools and that foundation has had no impact so they are allowed to bring in materials that may be very antisemitic. Are you going to vet those materials . In new york city we had a ers and so this is not made very. Its new y city. A very large system and a chance to say any individual map any particular classroom im already aware of it, but the principles of those schools are super supposed to provide the level of supervision. Two other countries have the sums to the Public Schools . I would have to get back to you on that. I any evidence in front of me now that we have a programs in the schools. But i dont want to we can certainly get to the answer to that. We would be happy if you could follow up with an answer. Thank you and i yield back. We would all like to see that answer we end of the committee. Ladies and gentlemen thank you for your, for being great audience members and we just have to have a closing statement statement. Without objection. I was hopconstructive conversation during which we would Work Together t find the most effective way to address and prevent antisemitism in schools. Sadly, tasks like this are made more difficult because we are in an era of deep division. The time about the tough issues as confrontational as it happens at all and of the time when it pains me to say this but itsresident of the United States has engaged not only in antisemitic tropes, but also devicesnd disparaging language including mocking a reporter with a disability calling american troops cowards if they were captured, ignoring the rule of law, threatening to have peo shot by police with shoplifting or minor crimes, and making so many countless and demeaning comments about women that its impossible to count them. I could go on there has been a tone said at the top. They will set aside differences and work in good faith on how we can best interest and prevent antiemhe schools and country as well as other speechay its been an excellent meeting. We are raising in congress and our mission was to have an open and honest conversation. I think we delivered that even if we are going tolems that weve identified today, it starts with recognizing that its happening and we need to do more. i think we were reminded of the most precious asset that isder each of your purview and that is the next generation these young kids some have described them with minus full of mush you help form into shapes and Critical Thinking. Any seeds of hatred were antisemitism thats planted there without reading it in shaping it and we can look at the video screens of what it could left unchecked. Im very aware of your presence here today with of the aclu as a reminder that a country built on free speech. Include death to jews or some of the other vile slogans that weve heard. Im aware of that. But its so hard to be a kid in todays society. Theres pressures. I make it of the 70s and 80s and its hard to imagine growing up social media and other pressures of being a kid today. We are better than this. Whenn the hallway they said weve got work to do and its not only a wakeup call for your School District but to everybody thats watching across america. America is the last great hope that we can hopefullyng and we are not approving it very well. So, i think that the lesson is no matter how small and you said to something, no matter how small needs to be investigated and people need to standards. There needs to be consequences for crossing that line. We stand with you and we will not cease shining the light and holding everybody accountable because as a than this and we all have a role to play. The work begins today Going Forward to the witnesses thank you for coming forward for your frank discussion and commitment going forwar live in a safe Society Without hatred and the fear of violence against us. And with that, without further business, the subcommittee stands and the hearing is now adjourned