Defending Education notes a continuing uptick in antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools since the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel by Hamas. Investigative reporter Kendall Tietz believes the hatred is fueled by ethnic studies courses.
Defending Education has filed Title VI complaints with the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights concerning antisemitic conduct.
Ethnic studies programs are academic fields that explore the histories, cultures, and experiences of racial and ethnic groups — often those that have been marginalized or underrepresented in mainstream education. These programs began in the late 1960s during the civil rights era, with early departments focusing on African American, Chicano/Latino, Native American, and Asian American studies.
"I would say one of the biggest vessels for potential antisemitic content that we have seen is through an ethnic studies course. States like California have implemented an ethnic studies requirement for high school students."
In these classes students study history and culture from the perspectives of the groups being examined – and from the perspectives of classroom teachers.
Tietz says parents are key in pushing back against the anti-Jewish animosity being incubated in schools.
"I think parents, obviously we work with a lot of parents, and they are the ones who can be on the ground and say, ‘look, this is the policy that my school district has in addressing instances of antisemitism."
