Newton Held As Example For National Trend: Report

NEWTON, MA — Some say what's being perceived as an incremental anti-Israeli bias trend in Newton's schools is part of a wider national trend, the Jewish News Syndicate reports.

The Newton school system has been under fire for the past few years by outside groups accusing it of anti-Israel bias in its high school history curriculum.

“What’s happening in Newton schools is part of a trend in public schools nationwide,” said Miriam Elman, a professor of political science at Syracuse University and the new executive director of the Academic Engagement Network. “Not only does anti-Israel hostility on college campuses influence the next generation of high school teachers, but these high school teachers are, in turn, sending kids up to college with a misinformed view of Israel.”

The Syndicate highlights a Jan. 28 event hosted by CAMERA a lobby and research organization formed in the wake of Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon to curb criticism of Israel in media. The organization brought together a panel of CAMERA researchers and a university professor at the Jewish Community Center in Newton to discuss curriculum in Newton, as well as other instances of what they see as anti-Israel bias in K-12 education that may be affecting younger students’ perception of Israel.

Newton Public School Department officials say they've worked with groups like the Anti-Defamation League and parents to smooth out past curriculum issues. School Committee members said the curriculum was developed from guidelines set by the state, and the program isn't biased and doesn't use anti-Semitic materials. And the mayor, who is Jewish, has come out forcefully in support of the curriculum and the superintendent, who is also Jewish.

READ the full article: How anti-Israel bias in a Boston suburb’s public schools is a case study of emerging nationwide trend

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