10 | Commentary
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Commentary / Tackling hate in schools, for kids’ sake In August, the country watched the streets of Charlottesville, Va., become a battleground, as white supremacists waved Nazi flags and shouted vile phrases about Jews and other minorities, and a rage-filled racist took the life of an innocent women and injured many others. According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. surged by more than one-third in 2016 and have jumped by 86 percent in the first quarter of 2017. The ADL also reports that in 2016, the number of incidents reported of anti-Semitic bullying and vandalism in elementary schools and high schools across the country increased dramatically. Thus, perhaps now more than ever, impressionable children are exposed to proliferating anti-Semitism and many other forms of hate that are rampant in the news, on social media and in casual conversation. They witness role models and leaders discussing it, repeating it, analyzing it, debating it — and it penetrates into their own vernacular without hesitation. But lack of maturity and understanding prevent them from truly recognizing the gravity of their own behavior and speech when they reiterate slurs, replicate symbols and repeat other comments and actions that offend, instill fear and hurt those who know more, those who know better. As anyone who has been targeted can attest, the pain and terror inflicted doesn’t discriminate based on the offender’s ignorance. Furthermore, when one group is targeted, all are at risk. Therefore, anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem; it is truly a community problem. Our schools are faced with the challenges of deciphering intent, determining appropriate responses and future prevention. They must do this not only when hate acts and speech occur on school playgrounds
and school buses, in classan example to other commurooms, hallways and lunchnities. One of the top priorities rooms, at social and sporting to emerge from AIAAS’ Leadevents, but now when these ership Forum was focusing efbehaviors transpire outside forts on children — through school hours, via social media education, exposure, involveand direct messaging. ment, responsibility and more. Many discipline the culAIAAS also launched a seprit. Some use the incidents cret Facebook group as a prias teachable moments. But so vate, nonpartisan space for much more can be done. the Atlanta community to disSchools and religious leadcuss instances of anti-Semiers have a perpetual obligation tism; within three days it had to always do better, not just for more than 3,500 members. It the students involved in partichas since become a commuular incidents but for the ennal support system for families tire student body and for the with children who experience future of the world at large. It anti-Semitic behavior from isn’t only important to teach classmates. those who perpetrate; bystandAll of these factors and ers are also culpable in such inmore have compelled the stances and need to know how growing grassroots effort, now to properly become “upstandapproximately 4,400 strong, to ers,” as the Anti-Defamation focus its attention and energy League espouses. on an ambitious endeavor to Earlier this year, the Atlanaddress these issues with all of ta Initiative Against Anti-Semthose who work to shape the Lauren Menis itism corralled nearly 200 of hearts and minds of children. the most prestigious leaders More than 200 impassioned Danielle Cohen from every sector in the greatAIAAS volunteers are currentLisa Fox Freedman er metro area to come together ly working together to host an are founding members at the first-ever Atlanta Leadeducational leadership event of the Atlanta Initiative ership Forum on Anti-Semiin November. AIAAS is invitAgainst Anti-Semitism, tism to discuss how to stand which formed earlier this ing thousands of educationas a united city to combat anti- year and held its first fo- al and religious leaders from Semitism and hate in our com10 metro-area districts reprerum in Sandy Springs. munity. Topical presentations senting public schools, private from experts led to inspiring schools, homeschool groups facilitated discussions among the business, and religious schools, as well as educationreligious, law enforcement, academic, cival, religious, human and civil rights, and soic, nonprofit, arts and entertainment, culcial justice organizations at the local, state, tural, ethnic and social leaders, generating regional and national levels. They will adover 100 pages of ideas of how Atlanta can dress proactive and reactive responses to keep anti-Semitism and hate at bay and be passive and aggressive anti-Semitism and other forms of hate as they relate to children, schools, curriculum, policies, procedures, protocols, programs, resources, tools and much more. The event, whose date and location are to be announced, will include topical presentations from experts in the field and facilitated discussions amongst attendees. To learn more about AIAAS, visit stopantisemitismatl.org, and to become involved, email volunteersaiaas@gmail.com. Rabbi Spike Anderson of Temple Eman-El in Sandy Springs speaks at his table at the Atlanta Initiative Against Anti-Semitism forum hosted by his synagogue on March 30. JOHN RUCH
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