WL Teacher promotes anti-Israel views in the classroom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

She is not targeting a group. She is criticizing the policies of a particular government. Unless you agree with those policies, you would not feel included. Many Jews in Israel are very opposed to what is happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

I disagree that a Senior level English course isn’t the right place, it’s exactly the right place to teach students to write about difficult and controversial subjects, to think about and write about the perspective of storytelling, and how power structures shape narratives. You think they should just be memorizing poems and reciting Shakespeare? That’s part of it, but not the entirety. These kids are seniors, 17-18 years old. They’re going to college next year. They need to be able to do this type of work in English and any subject that requires critical thinking and written communication.

And you have yet to show that anyone other than the Israel’s government is being criticized. Show me how students are being targeted, Ben. Go burn some more Barbies or ask yourself why your wife thinks a WAP is a medical condition and leave our kids and teachers out of your culture war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

She is not targeting a group. She is criticizing the policies of a particular government. Unless you agree with those policies, you would not feel included. Many Jews in Israel are very opposed to what is happening.

Did you read the article? I’m sorry but even if you disagree with what Israel is doing via a vis Gaza, there is literally no place in a public school (or anywhere else for that matter) where one should be allowed to accuse Israelis of playing victim because of the Holocaust. Shame on her, and shame on APS. And shame on any of you who think this is anything but blatant anti-Semetism. The holocaust happened. The victimization of Israelis and Jews as part of the holocaust should not be the topic of any legitimate political discourse. It’s just hate speech, plain and simple.

[Anonymous]

Interesting article regardless of the source. One of my kids had her as a 10th grade English teacher a few years ago and she called my DH and I to parent teacher meetings several times to complain about our kid but the complaints were vague and I’d sit there wondering why she wanted to see us and what she wanted us to do. My kid frequently could not figure out why this teacher was so harsh on them and why this teacher kept threatening to prevent them from being able to enroll in AP English in 11th grade. Now I think I know why.

[Anonymous]

My son had one of these English teachers at WL before he graduated, and he learned to agree with her to get a good grade but disagreed with everything she taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

She is not targeting a group. She is criticizing the policies of a particular government. Unless you agree with those policies, you would not feel included. Many Jews in Israel are very opposed to what is happening.

Did you read the article? I’m sorry but even if you disagree with what Israel is doing via a vis Gaza, there is literally no place in a public school (or anywhere else for that matter) where one should be allowed to accuse Israelis of playing victim because of the Holocaust. Shame on her, and shame on APS. And shame on any of you who think this is anything but blatant anti-Semetism. The holocaust happened. The victimization of Israelis and Jews as part of the holocaust should not be the topic of any legitimate political discourse. It’s just hate speech, plain and simple.

I’m not clicking on that BS link. Post here the exact language where she herself says Israel is “playing the victim” because of the Holocaust or denies that it occurred?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

She is not targeting a group. She is criticizing the policies of a particular government. Unless you agree with those policies, you would not feel included. Many Jews in Israel are very opposed to what is happening.

Did you read the article? I’m sorry but even if you disagree with what Israel is doing via a vis Gaza, there is literally no place in a public school (or anywhere else for that matter) where one should be allowed to accuse Israelis of playing victim because of the Holocaust. Shame on her, and shame on APS. And shame on any of you who think this is anything but blatant anti-Semetism. The holocaust happened. The victimization of Israelis and Jews as part of the holocaust should not be the topic of any legitimate political discourse. It’s just hate speech, plain and simple.

It didn't say that anywhere in the article!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

I disagree that a Senior level English course isn’t the right place, it’s exactly the right place to teach students to write about difficult and controversial subjects, to think about and write about the perspective of storytelling, and how power structures shape narratives. You think they should just be memorizing poems and reciting Shakespeare? That’s part of it, but not the entirety. These kids are seniors, 17-18 years old. They’re going to college next year. They need to be able to do this type of work in English and any subject that requires critical thinking and written communication.

And you have yet to show that anyone other than the Israel’s government is being criticized. Show me how students are being targeted, Ben. Go burn some more Barbies or ask yourself why your wife thinks a WAP is a medical condition and leave our kids and teachers out of your culture war.

It’s an English class, not a history, religion or social science class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's more shocking to me that more people aren't openly criticizing Israel. Good for her.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting article regardless of the source. One of my kids had her as a 10th grade English teacher a few years ago and she called my DH and I to parent teacher meetings several times to complain about our kid but the complaints were vague and I’d sit there wondering why she wanted to see us and what she wanted us to do. My kid frequently could not figure out why this teacher was so harsh on them and why this teacher kept threatening to prevent them from being able to enroll in AP English in 11th grade. Now I think I know why.

Ok? Why? Say it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's more shocking to me that more people aren't openly criticizing Israel. Good for her.

She is a public school English teacher. She needs to keep her political views to herself when she’s on the job. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

She is not targeting a group. She is criticizing the policies of a particular government. Unless you agree with those policies, you would not feel included. Many Jews in Israel are very opposed to what is happening.

Did you read the article? I’m sorry but even if you disagree with what Israel is doing via a vis Gaza, there is literally no place in a public school (or anywhere else for that matter) where one should be allowed to accuse Israelis of playing victim because of the Holocaust. Shame on her, and shame on APS. And shame on any of you who think this is anything but blatant anti-Semetism. The holocaust happened. The victimization of Israelis and Jews as part of the holocaust should not be the topic of any legitimate political discourse. It’s just hate speech, plain and simple.

It didn't say that anywhere in the article!

“ Shayma Al-Hanooti, who works at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, gave her students politically charged assignments such as sorting out “logical fallacies” in how Israelis use the “Holocaust to victimize themselves,” new documents reveal.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

I disagree that a Senior level English course isn’t the right place, it’s exactly the right place to teach students to write about difficult and controversial subjects, to think about and write about the perspective of storytelling, and how power structures shape narratives. You think they should just be memorizing poems and reciting Shakespeare? That’s part of it, but not the entirety. These kids are seniors, 17-18 years old. They’re going to college next year. They need to be able to do this type of work in English and any subject that requires critical thinking and written communication.

And you have yet to show that anyone other than the Israel’s government is being criticized. Show me how students are being targeted, Ben. Go burn some more Barbies or ask yourself why your wife thinks a WAP is a medical condition and leave our kids and teachers out of your culture war.

It’s an English class, not a history, religion or social science class.

Current events were discussed in every English class I ever took. Even my elementary and middle schooler analyzed articles from the news sources. I'm sorry you don't agree with her, but get real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's more shocking to me that more people aren't openly criticizing Israel. Good for her.

She is a public school English teacher. She needs to keep her political views to herself when she’s on the job. End of story.

God, I feel so bad for our kids. Everything is being so f-ing dumbed down for them. WHY shouldn't think be discussed??????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She hasn’t violated policy that anyone has shown. She’s taking the position that writers shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics and should use writing to reveal truth. Is there a specific way in which she has retaliated against a student for disagreeing, or discriminated against them for their beliefs/identify/ethnicity? If not, what is this about? Calling a war where tens of thousands of children on one side only have been killed is a genocide. Israel is an apartheid state, even if the “reason” for the apartheid is fear of terrorism. These are objective truths. Is this teacher calling for the death of Israelis or Americans of Jewish faith? Or is she having them read or watch material that is critical of the State and its actions and asking them to respond.

There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s not get off topic - a high school English class is not the appropriate forum to ask students to respond to this teachers beliefs. If it was any other group being targeted, this would not stand.

She is not targeting a group. She is criticizing the policies of a particular government. Unless you agree with those policies, you would not feel included. Many Jews in Israel are very opposed to what is happening.

Did you read the article? I’m sorry but even if you disagree with what Israel is doing via a vis Gaza, there is literally no place in a public school (or anywhere else for that matter) where one should be allowed to accuse Israelis of playing victim because of the Holocaust. Shame on her, and shame on APS. And shame on any of you who think this is anything but blatant anti-Semetism. The holocaust happened. The victimization of Israelis and Jews as part of the holocaust should not be the topic of any legitimate political discourse. It’s just hate speech, plain and simple.

It didn't say that anywhere in the article!

“ Shayma Al-Hanooti, who works at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, gave her students politically charged assignments such as sorting out “logical fallacies” in how Israelis use the “Holocaust to victimize themselves,” new documents reveal.”

Uhm, did she deny with that question that the holocaust happened?