Bay Area schools need a new approach to antisemitism
Originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle
Last year, many of our K-12 schools faced unprecedented challenges in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel and the war with Hamas that followed. Protests and walkouts disrupted learning, and anti-Israel protests quickly soured into hatred against Jewish students and faculty, leading to epithets, bullying and graffiti. Following Oct. 7, there was a mass exodus of Jewish students from the Oakland Unified School District. The San Francisco Unified School District also acknowledged antisemitism in the district led to some Jewish students and families leaving and many feeling like they didn’t belong.
Bay Area school administrators have to set a new tone and take this widespread antisemitism more seriously than last year. To ensure that every student feels safe, welcome and seen, public school leaders must not only denounce antisemitism but forcefully act to counter it and equip staff with tools to establish and sustain strong relationships that can better prepare school communities when an international or local crisis strikes.
Stopping the normalization of antisemitism in our schools will require a multipronged approach, including training for staff and students, clear delineations between legitimate criticism and antisemitic tropes, curricula about Jewish history, culture, antisemitism and consistent enforcement of anti-hate policies and procedures, and deepening community connections. Today’s K-12 students are tomorrow’s college students, civic leaders, elected officials and parents. Right now, leaders have an opportunity to ensure every child feels supported in the classroom and is protected from antisemitism. By following the roadmap I’ve outlined, teachers, administrators and other school officials can set the tone for the entire year and ensure schools are safe havens for all.