PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Discussions over the war in Gaza have divided classrooms and left educators struggling to teach a sensitive topic.
In the last year, Philadelphia School Board meetings have seen a steady series of adult and student speakers alleging antisemitism or Islamophobia in schools.
“I’m afraid,” one student said. “I’m afraid that my school won’t help me when my friends and my classmates tell me that my beliefs around Palestine are wrong.”
Jewish parents have filed a civil rights complaint against the district, claiming antisemitic acts by teachers, including one where a teacher wrote “Palestine” on a map of Israel.
While not commenting on that specific complaint, Bianca Gillis, principal of Baldi Middle School in Bustleton, says her school has significant Jewish and Muslim populations.
“They struggle like everyone else with what’s going on but we have done a really, really great job in just fostering a sense of inclusive, supportive environments,” Gillis said, adding that students can express their cultural individuality on dress-down days.
Dr. Sabriya Jubilee, the district’s chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, says when you have a responsibility to make sure everyone feels represented, there will be times when not everyone does.
“We are a public entity,” Jubilee said. “They have the right to bring that forward. I think like in any situation there are always multiple sides. There is always diverse understanding.”
The school district has launched training sessions for district leaders and teachers to understand not only the history of antisemitism and Islamophobia but also to recognize their own biases.
Israel continued operations in southern Lebanon and Gaza as tensions remain high in the wake of Iran's missile attack Tuesday and a potential Israeli counterstrike.