New report: Rampant antisemitism in the American education system
An Anti-Defamation League survey reveals the significant difficulties faced by Jewish teachers in US teachers' unions.
A new report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveals alarming findings regarding teachers' unions in the US. According to the report, most Jewish teachers have witnessed the denial or minimization of the atrocities of October 7. Many of them testified that curricula related to Israel or Judaism were negatively biased.
Teachers' unions in the United States have become a breeding ground for antisemitism and extreme anti-Jewish positions. A large majority of Jewish teachers in these unions engage in self-censorship.
"What we found is not the actions of a few isolated extremists, but a structural and cultural failure," said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.
According to the report, 74% of teachers testified that they feel the need to self-censor in union spaces, and nearly half have reduced their involvement in union activities due to rhetoric or offensive behavior toward Jews or Israel. The survey indicates that the denial of the October 7 atrocities has taken root in the American education system:
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About 52% of Jewish teachers witnessed the minimization or denial of the October 7 atrocities during the past year.
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About 49% heard the term "Zionist" used as a slur.
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44% noted that speakers who justify violence against Jews or Israel were invited to union events.
Regarding the curriculum, 78% of teachers who testified that their union promoted curricula related to Jews or Israel also noted that these programs were negatively biased. The survey also found that a large majority of teachers are afraid to complain about the treatment they received.
"Jewish educators have shown extraordinary courage," said Shira Goodman, Vice President of Public Affairs and Special Initiatives at the ADL. "They show up to meetings, file complaints, run for leadership positions, and work for change from within the system, sometimes at a real personal and professional cost. They are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for the same sense of respect and belonging that the unions promise to every member."
