Stephen Brandstatter

Anti-semitic presentation in schools deserves response

It has come to our attention that recently there was a presentation shown at local elementary schools in the Brattleboro area and at Brattleboro Area Middle School, whose subject matter was the condition and plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

It seems this program was introduced to third graders and other young students who are much too young to fully grasp, understand, or fathom the complexity and complications of the delicate, multifaceted situation in the Middle East.

Not only was this program one-sided, presenting a skewed and biased perspective, but apparently it was unauthorized by at least one school's principal. Organizers also overlooked informing two Jewish teachers about the program.

When these teachers found out about the program and did attend, they witnessed and were appalled by what they saw children being exposed to: a slanted, anti-Semitic presentation of Jews as “bad people,” while skirting a balanced view about Palestinians.

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