A Division of Training publication claiming Israel is committing “genocide in Gaza” was despatched out to tons of of academics — prompting fuming Jewish educators to name it out as one other instance of ingrained antisemitism within the metropolis’s public college system.
The 14-page “Teacher Career Pathways” spring 2025 publication — which sports activities the logos of town DOE and the United Federation of Lecturers union — went out during the last week to “master teachers” throughout the system’s 1,800 faculties.
“The genocide in Gaza, among other global injustices, emphasized the urgent need for student voices to be centered and heard,” it mentioned.
The declare was talked about in a bit of the publication headlined “Teacher Leadership in Action” that mentioned the student-led March 28 “Day of Action” from the Columbus Campus Youth Council in The Bronx triggered by “pro-Palestinian protests” final fall.
Professional-Israel academics and Jewish activists monitoring antisemitism ripped it as the most recent occasion of the DOE selling anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda — and famous it might violate laws towards politicking in metropolis public faculties.
“This newsletter needs to be removed and someone needs to apologize immediately,” one trainer, who requested anonymity, mentioned.
“Does [New York City Public Schools] expect me, a Jewish educator, to disseminate a message that so callously references the ‘genocide in Gaza’ as the inspiration for this student group?” the trainer continued.
“To frame this pro-Palestinian protest – which was a pro-Hamas protest, filled with antisemitic tropes, and called for the eradication of Israel – as some noble catalyst?”
Earlier this month, Colleges Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos was pressured to apologize for a special publication that linked to a “Stop Gaza Genocide Toolkit” — sparking outrage within the Jewish neighborhood.
That 17-page doc contained radicalized messaging that encourages readers to “Stop arming Israel and free Palestine!”
In the meantime, an anti-Israel group final week despatched an e mail blast to tons of of metropolis academics pushing for a Might Day strike and different “civil disobedience” to protest the Gaza struggle.
The Labor for Palestine Community referred to as for union members to stand up towards “the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza” and even coordinate their efforts with pupil teams, which academics have been advised to disregard by metropolis college officers.
Lecturers who acquired the latest publication have been additionally fed up with the DOE seemingly fomenting antisemitism.
Karen Feldman, co-founder of the NYC Public College Alliance, mentioned it was “deeply troubling” that for the second time in latest weeks an official DOE publication had “promoted politically charged language and glorified protests—better described as riots” —together with on the Christopher Columbus HS campus final 12 months.
“Public schools must be spaces of learning, inclusion, and neutrality—not vehicles for inflammatory, historically inaccurate propaganda,” mentioned Feldman, a 26-year instructing veteran.
“This is not genuine social justice—it is the spread of hate disguised as activism,” she mentioned.
“Our schools should be cultivating informed citizens, not serving as training grounds for ideological indoctrination.”
Manhattan Councilwoman Julie Menin referred to as the “genocide” declare within the publication “simply inexcusable and unconscionable.”
“We were very clear with the chancellor that such instances can never occur again and that there need to be consequences for hate speech and here we are weeks later with the same failure. DOE gets a F,” mentioned Menin.
A DOE spokesperson mentioned the language had been faraway from the publication when found, however didn’t reply when The Publish requested who had written it.
“This is unacceptable and, once discovered, we immediately removed this language from the newsletter. We are strengthening our review protocols for communications to ensure that all inappropriate political rhetoric is removed,” the rep mentioned in an announcement.
A UFT spokesperson mentioned: “While we do work with the DOE on this program, we did not write or review this newsletter before it was released.”
“Our work with the program centers on interviewing potential candidates, providing pedagogical professional development, and supporting instructional strategies in schools,” the assertion mentioned.
The Profession Pathways program promotes instructors to “master” academics to assist different classroom academics. They’re paid a stipend for taking over the extra function.
The UFT takes half in interviews with DOE officers of candidates making use of for the grasp trainer place.
Michelle Ahdoot, director of programming for programming and technique on the watchdog group #EndJewHatred mentioned, “We are seeing a clear pattern of Jew-hatred in official communications from the DOE, and a complete failure by the chancellor to address it.”
“It’s time to hold the chancellor accountable for her deliberate indifference to the continuing injustice targeting Jewish students and families – that she, as chancellor, is ultimately responsible for. We demand public condemnation of these communications along with a full investigation as to who is responsible for allowing these horrific missteps to repeatedly occur.”
Jewish and pro-Israel academics have been terrified by pro-Hamas, pro-Palestinian protests of their faculties.
One veteran Jewish trainer was pressured to lock herself in an workplace whereas a rowdy mob of scholars hunted her down at Hillcrest HS in Queens, simply weeks after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 invasion of Israel and the next Israeli counteroffensive in Gaza.
— Extra reporting by Craig McCarthy
