Missing a Teachable Moment

Published December 12, 2013, issue of December 12, 2013.

The distribution within the Newton school system of alleged anti-Israel materials,
specifically The Arab Primer, is a two-year-old controversy that will not go away.
Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Jewish Community Relations Council, Temple Emanuel
of Newton, Anti-Defamation League, Zionist Organizations of America, Americans for
Peace and Tolerance and now the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in
America have all weighed in on the subject. There is so much obfuscation that even
seasoned reporters cannot decipher the story as it is embedded in so many conflicting
points of view.
In defense of the Newton school system, the questionable materials that were allegedly
distributed in 2011 to a ninth grade history class were removed when they came to
light. Offensive materials that were reported to be on a website were also taken down.
Mistakes do happen, errors of judgment do occur, and in this case, they were rectified.
However, there is a bigger underlying issue. If offensive materials could find their way
into the Newton school system, the curriculum of every school system in the country is
vulnerable.
The inclusion of propaganda and hate literature in a high school curriculum, even
peripherally, is a serious matter. If the intent is to develop the critical abilities of
students, it may be justified. However, if the intent of the materials is to indoctrinate,
such inclusion is intolerable.
Context is key to understanding these situations.
Across the board, the reactions of ADL, the other Jewish institutions, and the Newton
school system have been disappointing. Many of them joined together in a chorus of
denials, and attacked those who brought the issue to light. That is not constructive, and
served to exacerbate the controversy.
The whole affair should have been a teachable moment. Instead of pointing fingers,
this incident should have inspired organizations to work collectively to learn how
curricula might become corrupted, and to establish protocols that could be used by
school systems around the country and around the world. Historically, ADL has been the
go to organization for this purpose. ADLs unwillingness to publish investigative details
and findings perpetuated the conflict and impeded progress.
Newton parents and the greater Jewish community deserve greater transparency and
accountability.