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New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks defended his record on anti-Semitism during a tense Congressional hearing on Wednesday, arguing that schools have consistently responded to problematic incidents in terms of both instruction and discipline. did.
Banks joined school leaders from Montgomery County, Maryland, and Berkeley, California, at a hearing on “Confronting Anti-Semitism in K-12 Schools'' convened by the House Education and Labor Committee. He has joined the American Civil Liberties Union as a staff attorney.
Wednesday's hearing followed an earlier high-profile committee hearing with university leaders that led to the resignation of multiple university presidents. Republican lawmakers say hearings show higher education leaders have failed to adequately address anti-Semitism on campus in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. . They used the hearing to press K-12 leaders like Banks about similar concerns.
Introducing the panel, Republican Rep. Aaron Bean said some of the “ugliest” ideas were exposed in the aftermath of last year's attacks and that “our education system has failed to stop them.” .
“Jewish students are afraid to ride the bus, wear a kippah to school, or even eat and breathe as Jewish students,” Bean said. .
Banks, who oversees the nation's largest school system with more than 900,000 students and about 150,000 faculty and staff, said the system's diversity means “our classrooms are not isolated from the world stage.” Admitted.
“Unacceptable incidents of anti-Semitism are occurring in our schools,” he said.
Banks emphasized a response focused on education, including preventing hate crimes and introducing several new curricula on the Holocaust and Jewish history. However, he also said that Education Ministry officials had “removed, disciplined, or are in the process of disciplining” 12 staff members linked to anti-Semitic incidents.
He said at least 30 students have been suspended for being involved in anti-Semitic incidents.
Banks pointed out that the hate incidents at city schools following the Oct. 7 attack were not just directed at Jewish students. Of the 281 total incidents of religious bias that have occurred in city schools since October 7, 42% were related to anti-Semitism and 30% were directed at Muslim students, he said. Stated.
Asked by Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat and former Bronx public school superintendent, whether the city could combat anti-Semitism while confronting other forms of bigotry at the same time, Banks said, “If possible, “No, I have to do that.”
Banks rebel
Some of the most heated exchanges at Wednesday's hearing focused on the aftermath of a raucous student demonstration at Hillcrest High School in Queens, Banks' alma mater. There, students filled the hallways and held signs that read “I stand with Israel” during the Oct. 7 attack, demanding the resignation of a teacher who posted photos on social media soon after.
After the demonstration, Banks called “the idea that these kids are radicalized and anti-Semitic” “the height of irresponsibility.”
When Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, challenged the statement, Banks told Owens he stood by it and insisted that “the entire school was not radicalized.” He added: “The children who were responsible and led the effort clearly engaged in anti-Semitic acts, which I have addressed.” The Prime Minister said a “large number” of these students had been suspended.
Banks also highlighted the firing of Hillcrest Principal Scott Milczewski mid-year, citing concerns about his leadership. Mr. Milchevsky was transferred to a central bureaucratic position at the Ministry of Education.
Several representatives grilled Banks about why Milchevsky is still employed by the city's Department of Education and accused him of misrepresenting Milchevsky's status.
“How can Jewish students feel safe in New York City schools when they can't even fire the principal of a 'Jewish high school open season'?” said Rep. Brandon Williams, R-New York. demanded.
Banks said he doesn't think Milczewski is fit to continue leading Hillcrest, but that there is due process for employees and that the chancellor doesn't need anyone just because he doesn't agree with an employee's actions. He replied that he did not have the authority to fire him.
Mr. Banks also came under fire over Hillcrest from New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, who said at the beginning of the hearing that Mr. Banks continued to work for Hillcrest. He pointed out that when asked whether any staff members related to Mr. Hillcrest had been fired, the answer appeared to be “yes.” Department store.
“It concerns me that you are putting him in a senior position,” she said.
ACLU attorney Emerson Sykes said that while schools are required by federal law to respond to “hostile” educational environments, certain criticisms of Israel and its government are protected by the First Amendment. I warned you that there was.
“Depending on the circumstances, firing may be appropriate,” he said. “But I think we need to think about how we can address anti-Semitism, change hearts, and make our children safe, rather than just looking at the most punitive tools in our toolbox. ”
“It’s not about Gotcha Moment.”
Lawmakers have raised concerns about the climate in other New York City schools in recent months.
For example, they raised allegations of unchecked anti-Semitism among students at Origins High School in south Brooklyn, which is currently the subject of a federal lawsuit.
Among the lawsuit's claims: Dozens of students marched through the hallways chanting “Fuck the Jews.”
Banks said an investigation into the mass march, in which Education Department officials marched through hallways chanting hateful chants, “found no evidence.” However, he said other “very disturbing” anti-Semitic incidents had been discovered at the school. He said he could not comment further due to ongoing litigation.
In an elementary school classroom at PS 261 in Brooklyn, North Carolina Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx asked Banks about a map of the Middle East that omitted Israel. The school's Arabic art program is funded by a foundation linked to the Qatari government, and Fox expressed concern that the foundation is pushing unvetted materials into the city's public school classrooms. .
But the bank said the map was not provided by the Qatar Foundation. The teacher said he discovered it himself during a visit to Jerusalem. Banks thought the map was anti-Semitic and had it removed, but after speaking with the teacher, the teacher said there was no anti-Semitic intent. (The map was displayed in the classroom for over 10 years.)
Near the end of the hearing, Banks reiterated the criticisms he had made days before testifying. The idea was that the event was designed to create a “viral moment” rather than an actual solution to a complex problem.
He also argued that part of the problem is young people's emotional but misguided reactions to what they see on social media.
“At the end of the day, if we're really interested in solving anti-Semitism, it's not a matter of an awkward moment,” he said. “It's about teaching.”
Bowman and Rep. Jahana Hayes of Connecticut, a Democrat and another former educator, emphasized the need to combat other forms of discrimination, including Islamophobia, alongside anti-Semitism.
