Nysmith allegedly allowed antisemetic bullying and expelled the kids who's parents complained

[Anonymous]

Someone better tell Mel Brooks that Hitler in art is off limits.

Again, context matters. As many have tried to explain.

Is a smiling photo a great idea- probably not. B/c of how easily it can be misconstrued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone better tell Mel Brooks that Hitler in art is off limits.

Again, context matters. As many have tried to explain.

Is a smiling photo a great idea- probably not. B/c of how easily it can be misconstrued.

Was Mel Brooks a teacher of young children?

Remember, The Producers was satire. I don't think the school was using satire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can vouch for the fact that many of the teachers are nysmith do not have degrees. And they have no business having anything to do with children! It’s a very dangerous place to send your kid. I will always have guilt over sending my children there even though it was a short period of time.

This is a ridiculous take. Every teacher at Nysmith has a degree. Some, not all, have teaching certifications, but having a teaching certification is immaterial to the question of whether or not one is a good teacher.

Nysmith has historically exceptional retention rates among both students and staff and a damn near spotless record for its nearly 40 year history. This is a troubling episode, to be sure, but let’s not pretend as though it’s somehow dangerous when you have literally tens of thousands of satisfied customers over their history whose kids have gone on to incredible outcomes.

And yes, middle schoolers are old enough to learn about the Holocaust at a surface level and do projects that force them to learn about terrible people. It’s part of how they hopefully learn not to be terrible people themselves.

Satisfied customers? That you, Ken?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I literally can’t fathom arguing that a giant portrait of hitler is appropriate. What if the assignment was famous symbols and they painted a swastika? This is not an art project for elementary middle or ever at any stage in school!

Local Jewish leaders used to want all kids in the DC area to go on field trips to the Holocaust Museum in middle or high school to teach them about the dangers of anti-Semitism. Do you think kids don't see pictures of Hitler or swastikas there?

Or are we in full censorship mode now in Amerikka, with people so drunk on their new-found ability to crack down on others who don't subscribe to their far-right and Zionist agendas that they just love hunting for new targets every week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who is a Nysmith family…

Did this photo appear in a Look Ahead? And if so, from when?

Our family has never seen this. Nysmith has gone above and beyond to be neutral and a-political so it’s weird to see this in the news. It does feel like a big part of story is missing when we step back and read it. I’ve read the clips multiple times as it doesn’t resonate and seems off as a parent with kids there.

There are both Dems and Republican families who gravitate to Nysmith for its ability to embrace diversity in political views and help kids grow in having tough conversations. Race, gender, religion, etc. all are discussed in a positive, inclusive way. I asked my kids and they had no idea and haven’t witnessed any of this bullying. Any slight problem we’ve had was addressed immediately. They were ten times better than FCPS in addressing issues head on. They also took the time to investigate issues and get all sides. It’s been a positive partnership, so again this surprised me.

Let me guess. You’re white, Christian, and wealthy?

NP, but presumably most of the complainants are white, jewish, and wealthy, so why does this make a difference?

Can you truly be this clueless? I guess you are. Look up institutional racism. Look up systemic bias.

Did you read the complaint? Give the parents last names there’s at least a chance that none of the complainants are white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who is a Nysmith family…

Did this photo appear in a Look Ahead? And if so, from when?

Our family has never seen this. Nysmith has gone above and beyond to be neutral and a-political so it’s weird to see this in the news. It does feel like a big part of story is missing when we step back and read it. I’ve read the clips multiple times as it doesn’t resonate and seems off as a parent with kids there.

There are both Dems and Republican families who gravitate to Nysmith for its ability to embrace diversity in political views and help kids grow in having tough conversations. Race, gender, religion, etc. all are discussed in a positive, inclusive way. I asked my kids and they had no idea and haven’t witnessed any of this bullying. Any slight problem we’ve had was addressed immediately. They were ten times better than FCPS in addressing issues head on. They also took the time to investigate issues and get all sides. It’s been a positive partnership, so again this surprised me.

Let me guess. You’re white, Christian, and wealthy?

NP, but presumably most of the complainants are white, jewish, and wealthy, so why does this make a difference?

Can you truly be this clueless? I guess you are. Look up institutional racism. Look up systemic bias.

Did you read the complaint? Give the parents last names there’s at least a chance that none of the complainants are white.

So none of the parents complaining about antisematic bullying are white? This is all complete bs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who is a Nysmith family…

Did this photo appear in a Look Ahead? And if so, from when?

Our family has never seen this. Nysmith has gone above and beyond to be neutral and a-political so it’s weird to see this in the news. It does feel like a big part of story is missing when we step back and read it. I’ve read the clips multiple times as it doesn’t resonate and seems off as a parent with kids there.

There are both Dems and Republican families who gravitate to Nysmith for its ability to embrace diversity in political views and help kids grow in having tough conversations. Race, gender, religion, etc. all are discussed in a positive, inclusive way. I asked my kids and they had no idea and haven’t witnessed any of this bullying. Any slight problem we’ve had was addressed immediately. They were ten times better than FCPS in addressing issues head on. They also took the time to investigate issues and get all sides. It’s been a positive partnership, so again this surprised me.

Let me guess. You’re white, Christian, and wealthy?

NP, but presumably most of the complainants are white, jewish, and wealthy, so why does this make a difference?

Can you truly be this clueless? I guess you are. Look up institutional racism. Look up systemic bias.

Did you read the complaint? Give the parents last names there’s at least a chance that none of the complainants are white.

So none of the parents complaining about antisematic bullying are white? This is all complete bs.

You are talking about two different things here. The complainants are the ones who filed the suit. We have no clue about the others complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I literally can’t fathom arguing that a giant portrait of hitler is appropriate. What if the assignment was famous symbols and they painted a swastika? This is not an art project for elementary middle or ever at any stage in school!

Local Jewish leaders used to want all kids in the DC area to go on field trips to the Holocaust Museum in middle or high school to teach them about the dangers of anti-Semitism. Do you think kids don't see pictures of Hitler or swastikas there?

Or are we in full censorship mode now in Amerikka, with people so drunk on their new-found ability to crack down on others who don't subscribe to their far-right and Zionist agendas that they just love hunting for new targets every week?

Why do you keep bringing up Zionism and Israel in a discussion about antisemitism? There is zero indication that anyone involved in this complaint has any Zionist inclinations whatsoever. The kids who bullied this girl by screaming that she was an “Israeli baby killer” have an excuse - they’re 11. What’s your excuse?

Also, do you imagine that on these field trips to the Holocaust Museum (which, just FYI, contains a very thoughtfully done children’s exhibit that does not feature photos of Hitler) the kids are asked to draw portraits of Hitler? Or to reproduce Nazi imagery in any way?

Again, if you want to be a free speech absolutist go right ahead. A Jewish ACLU attorney famously defended the right of Nazis to march in Skokie. An ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is not the place for that sh*t though. And you claiming the parents here are being oversensitive and demanding special treatment and (most bizarrely) disregarding the feelings of other marginalized groups - that lets me know that you’re just a garden variety antisemite yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone better tell Mel Brooks that Hitler in art is off limits.

Again, context matters. As many have tried to explain.

Is a smiling photo a great idea- probably not. B/c of how easily it can be misconstrued.

Yup, context DOES matter. The context here is the kids were 11. If the school was teaching 11 year olds to sing “Springtime for Hitler” I’m pretty sure people would be equally outraged, with all due respect to Mr. Brooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone better tell Mel Brooks that Hitler in art is off limits.

Again, context matters. As many have tried to explain.

Is a smiling photo a great idea- probably not. B/c of how easily it can be misconstrued.

yes context matters which is why the comparison to The Producers is so dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone better tell Mel Brooks that Hitler in art is off limits.

Again, context matters. As many have tried to explain.

Is a smiling photo a great idea- probably not. B/c of how easily it can be misconstrued.

Yup, context DOES matter. The context here is the kids were 11. If the school was teaching 11 year olds to sing “Springtime for Hitler” I’m pretty sure people would be equally outraged, with all due respect to Mr. Brooks.

FWIW I actually let my (Jewish) kid watch The Producers when he was 11. By the time he was 11 he also unfortunately was becoming well versed in the double standard around antisemitism vs other kinds of hate speech. I can imagine he would be irked but not surprised if his peers drew a picture of Hitler as an example of a strong leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I literally can’t fathom arguing that a giant portrait of hitler is appropriate. What if the assignment was famous symbols and they painted a swastika? This is not an art project for elementary middle or ever at any stage in school!

Local Jewish leaders used to want all kids in the DC area to go on field trips to the Holocaust Museum in middle or high school to teach them about the dangers of anti-Semitism. Do you think kids don't see pictures of Hitler or swastikas there?

Or are we in full censorship mode now in Amerikka, with people so drunk on their new-found ability to crack down on others who don't subscribe to their far-right and Zionist agendas that they just love hunting for new targets every week?

Why do you keep bringing up Zionism and Israel in a discussion about antisemitism? There is zero indication that anyone involved in this complaint has any Zionist inclinations whatsoever. The kids who bullied this girl by screaming that she was an “Israeli baby killer” have an excuse - they’re 11. What’s your excuse?

Also, do you imagine that on these field trips to the Holocaust Museum (which, just FYI, contains a very thoughtfully done children’s exhibit that does not feature photos of Hitler) the kids are asked to draw portraits of Hitler? Or to reproduce Nazi imagery in any way?

Again, if you want to be a free speech absolutist go right ahead. A Jewish ACLU attorney famously defended the right of Nazis to march in Skokie. An ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is not the place for that sh*t though. And you claiming the parents here are being oversensitive and demanding special treatment and (most bizarrely) disregarding the feelings of other marginalized groups - that lets me know that you’re just a garden variety antisemite yourself.

The people trying to make this into a huge deal very much fit the pro-Zionist mode. Any possible incident that can be made out as anti-Semitic gets treated as an opportunity to push a right-wing, pro-Israel agenda and cancel any critics.

If Israel wasn’t behaving so atrociously on the global stage, there wouldn’t be local incidents of this nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone better tell Mel Brooks that Hitler in art is off limits.

Again, context matters. As many have tried to explain.

Is a smiling photo a great idea- probably not. B/c of how easily it can be misconstrued.

Yup, context DOES matter. The context here is the kids were 11. If the school was teaching 11 year olds to sing “Springtime for Hitler” I’m pretty sure people would be equally outraged, with all due respect to Mr. Brooks.

FWIW I actually let my (Jewish) kid watch The Producers when he was 11. By the time he was 11 he also unfortunately was becoming well versed in the double standard around antisemitism vs other kinds of hate speech. I can imagine he would be irked but not surprised if his peers drew a picture of Hitler as an example of a strong leader.

It’s hard not to feel it’s disingenuous to say “example of a strong leader” with the added context of “a leader displaying Machiavellian traits” (if you knew that, I understand you may not have )

(And fwiw I think the school sounds like it’s really handled everything badly and there is likely to be antisemitism in the school’s handling of the bullying and this project should have been monitored more closely so this Hitler poster didn’t happen.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I literally can’t fathom arguing that a giant portrait of hitler is appropriate. What if the assignment was famous symbols and they painted a swastika? This is not an art project for elementary middle or ever at any stage in school!

Local Jewish leaders used to want all kids in the DC area to go on field trips to the Holocaust Museum in middle or high school to teach them about the dangers of anti-Semitism. Do you think kids don't see pictures of Hitler or swastikas there?

Or are we in full censorship mode now in Amerikka, with people so drunk on their new-found ability to crack down on others who don't subscribe to their far-right and Zionist agendas that they just love hunting for new targets every week?

Why do you keep bringing up Zionism and Israel in a discussion about antisemitism? There is zero indication that anyone involved in this complaint has any Zionist inclinations whatsoever. The kids who bullied this girl by screaming that she was an “Israeli baby killer” have an excuse - they’re 11. What’s your excuse?

Also, do you imagine that on these field trips to the Holocaust Museum (which, just FYI, contains a very thoughtfully done children’s exhibit that does not feature photos of Hitler) the kids are asked to draw portraits of Hitler? Or to reproduce Nazi imagery in any way?

Again, if you want to be a free speech absolutist go right ahead. A Jewish ACLU attorney famously defended the right of Nazis to march in Skokie. An ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is not the place for that sh*t though. And you claiming the parents here are being oversensitive and demanding special treatment and (most bizarrely) disregarding the feelings of other marginalized groups - that lets me know that you’re just a garden variety antisemite yourself.

The people trying to make this into a huge deal very much fit the pro-Zionist mode. Any possible incident that can be made out as anti-Semitic gets treated as an opportunity to push a right-wing, pro-Israel agenda and cancel any critics.

If Israel wasn’t behaving so atrociously on the global stage, there wouldn’t be local incidents of this nature.

True, antisemitism began in 1949.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone better tell Mel Brooks that Hitler in art is off limits.

Again, context matters. As many have tried to explain.

Is a smiling photo a great idea- probably not. B/c of how easily it can be misconstrued.

Yup, context DOES matter. The context here is the kids were 11. If the school was teaching 11 year olds to sing “Springtime for Hitler” I’m pretty sure people would be equally outraged, with all due respect to Mr. Brooks.

FWIW I actually let my (Jewish) kid watch The Producers when he was 11. By the time he was 11 he also unfortunately was becoming well versed in the double standard around antisemitism vs other kinds of hate speech. I can imagine he would be irked but not surprised if his peers drew a picture of Hitler as an example of a strong leader.

It’s hard not to feel it’s disingenuous to say “example of a strong leader” with the added context of “a leader displaying Machiavellian traits” (if you knew that, I understand you may not have )

(And fwiw I think the school sounds like it’s really handled everything badly and there is likely to be antisemitism in the school’s handling of the bullying and this project should have been monitored more closely so this Hitler poster didn’t happen.)

Not all Machiavellian traits are “evil” and the HOS stated as much when he said some kids did Obama. I don’t think the kids were necessarily trying to harass anyone - the issue was the teacher and the unfathomable choice to let them do the drawing AND pose with it proudly AND post the picture to the school newsletter.