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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

It’s so crazy to me that that last sentence was basically the HOS’s response on instagram. He classified the severe bullying as “unkind comments” and then attributed it to “the ongoing conflict in Gaza.” Literally why else bring up Gaza at all if not to minimize the culpability of those involved?

Can you imagine if, after 9/11, a Muslim student was severely bullied, and in response, the school posted a message saying “9/11 has impacted our students in deeply personal and emotional ways”? So wildly inappropriate. And that was an event that took place in DC, not halfway across the world.

Also, in a seven paragraph statement full of self-serving bullsh*t, you couldn’t see your way clear to condemn antisemitism even ONCE? Literally, the word antisemitism does not appear. Just generic “we condemn all hate.”

If I was the plaintiffs’ lawyer I’d be thanking my lucky stars right now.

DP. Fwiw, the situation in Gaza is threatening the accreditation of Columbia University and has cost our preeminent colleges and universities billions, literally billions, in science and research grants. But you think it's unrealistic for a private K-8 school to struggle a bit with the issue? Saying "unkind words" seems like a good way to describe children who may learn, rather than permanently dismiss them as irredeemable.

Exactly this. Are we really naive enough to think Israeli could engage on a months-long campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing and that it wouldn't have spillover effects on Jews in other countries, including kids who have absolutely nothing to do with the policies of the Israeli government?

When people pretend otherwise, and simply react with calls for the demonization of other adults and children, that tells me that they aren't interested in recognizing the pain of others or teachable moments and instead want to treat incidents of alleged anti-Semitism as an opportunity to press forward with their own personal and geo-political agendas. We see this in spades with the likes of MAGA tools like Nomani.

What a load of hogwash. That you use the situation in Gaza to excuse what has gone on in the school is beyond disturbing. What happened to the children who were kicked out of the school is not acceptable. Unbelievable that you condone this behavior.

The students were kicked out because the parent yelled (or worse) at the HoS. Not because of religion. Saying that it was antisemitism is unhelpful.

This is such a common defense in discrimination cases that there’s a whole body of case law around it. Typical pattern: employer discriminates, employee yells about discrimination, employer fires employee for “insubordination.” Even if the parents yelled here (there is no evidence of that in the complaint, the HOS’s expulsion letter, or the school’s public statement), the law does not require people complaining about discrimination to do so in a perfectly calm, non-emotional manner. It’s still retaliation.

Furthermore, VA is a one-party consent state. I would not be shocked if the parents have a recording of this convo backing up their version of events.

[Anonymous]

Did we ever find out if the HOS has any college degree or coursework to be a principal?

[Anonymous]

There is no indication that he went to college at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did we ever find out if the HOS has any college degree or coursework to be a principal?

He has no education experience or knowledge whatsoever. He earned a business degree in college. He has no idea what is even being taught in his own classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It’s so crazy to me that that last sentence was basically the HOS’s response on instagram. He classified the severe bullying as “unkind comments” and then attributed it to “the ongoing conflict in Gaza.” Literally why else bring up Gaza at all if not to minimize the culpability of those involved?

Can you imagine if, after 9/11, a Muslim student was severely bullied, and in response, the school posted a message saying “9/11 has impacted our students in deeply personal and emotional ways”? So wildly inappropriate. And that was an event that took place in DC, not halfway across the world.

Also, in a seven paragraph statement full of self-serving bullsh*t, you couldn’t see your way clear to condemn antisemitism even ONCE? Literally, the word antisemitism does not appear. Just generic “we condemn all hate.”

If I was the plaintiffs’ lawyer I’d be thanking my lucky stars right now.

DP. Fwiw, the situation in Gaza is threatening the accreditation of Columbia University and has cost our preeminent colleges and universities billions, literally billions, in science and research grants. But you think it's unrealistic for a private K-8 school to struggle a bit with the issue? Saying "unkind words" seems like a good way to describe children who may learn, rather than permanently dismiss them as irredeemable.

Exactly this. Are we really naive enough to think Israeli could engage on a months-long campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing and that it wouldn't have spillover effects on Jews in other countries, including kids who have absolutely nothing to do with the policies of the Israeli government?

When people pretend otherwise, and simply react with calls for the demonization of other adults and children, that tells me that they aren't interested in recognizing the pain of others or teachable moments and instead want to treat incidents of alleged anti-Semitism as an opportunity to press forward with their own personal and geo-political agendas. We see this in spades with the likes of MAGA tools like Nomani.

What a load of hogwash. That you use the situation in Gaza to excuse what has gone on in the school is beyond disturbing. What happened to the children who were kicked out of the school is not acceptable. Unbelievable that you condone this behavior.

The students were kicked out because the parent yelled (or worse) at the HoS. Not because of religion. Saying that it was antisemitism is unhelpful.

This is such a common defense in discrimination cases that there’s a whole body of case law around it. Typical pattern: employer discriminates, employee yells about discrimination, employer fires employee for “insubordination.” Even if the parents yelled here (there is no evidence of that in the complaint, the HOS’s expulsion letter, or the school’s public statement), the law does not require people complaining about discrimination to do so in a perfectly calm, non-emotional manner. It’s still retaliation.

Furthermore, VA is a one-party consent state. I would not be shocked if the parents have a recording of this convo backing up their version of events.

I have said this a few times before - but just because Ken described the parents as emotional doesn’t mean they yelled or were out of line. Ken’s playbook is - a parent raises a concern- and he tells them he will write them a check to leave or they can get back in line. He also fires teachers who raise concerns. Expelling them is straight out of his playbook for parents who complain about the same issue more than once. This is nothing new and I guarantee you a lot more people will be coming out of the woodwork. Not necessarily for anti semitism but for other reasons

[Anonymous]

I might get "emotional" if my child was called a "baby killer."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It’s so crazy to me that that last sentence was basically the HOS’s response on instagram. He classified the severe bullying as “unkind comments” and then attributed it to “the ongoing conflict in Gaza.” Literally why else bring up Gaza at all if not to minimize the culpability of those involved?

Can you imagine if, after 9/11, a Muslim student was severely bullied, and in response, the school posted a message saying “9/11 has impacted our students in deeply personal and emotional ways”? So wildly inappropriate. And that was an event that took place in DC, not halfway across the world.

Also, in a seven paragraph statement full of self-serving bullsh*t, you couldn’t see your way clear to condemn antisemitism even ONCE? Literally, the word antisemitism does not appear. Just generic “we condemn all hate.”

If I was the plaintiffs’ lawyer I’d be thanking my lucky stars right now.

DP. Fwiw, the situation in Gaza is threatening the accreditation of Columbia University and has cost our preeminent colleges and universities billions, literally billions, in science and research grants. But you think it's unrealistic for a private K-8 school to struggle a bit with the issue? Saying "unkind words" seems like a good way to describe children who may learn, rather than permanently dismiss them as irredeemable.

Exactly this. Are we really naive enough to think Israeli could engage on a months-long campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing and that it wouldn't have spillover effects on Jews in other countries, including kids who have absolutely nothing to do with the policies of the Israeli government?

When people pretend otherwise, and simply react with calls for the demonization of other adults and children, that tells me that they aren't interested in recognizing the pain of others or teachable moments and instead want to treat incidents of alleged anti-Semitism as an opportunity to press forward with their own personal and geo-political agendas. We see this in spades with the likes of MAGA tools like Nomani.

And wtf does this have to do with what happened at Nysmith?

the antisemitism threads on DCUM have opened my eyes to how much people actually do hate Jews. Even threads literally about people killed in antisemitic attacks fill up immediately with posters claiming “STFU you are all Hasbara fakers.”

+1

Reading DCUM has turned me more into a supporter of Israel and I say that as someone who attended pro-Palestinian protests for years. I am still a believer in two states, but watching the reaction here has really opened my eyes to just how ingrained antisemitism is. I’m a lot more skeptical of the pro-Palestine movement than I used to be.

Are you really that dense? What do you think the demographics of DCUM are? Do you think there are more Israelis/Jews or Arabs/Palestinians posting here? Go find your remaining braincells and use them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It’s so crazy to me that that last sentence was basically the HOS’s response on instagram. He classified the severe bullying as “unkind comments” and then attributed it to “the ongoing conflict in Gaza.” Literally why else bring up Gaza at all if not to minimize the culpability of those involved?

Can you imagine if, after 9/11, a Muslim student was severely bullied, and in response, the school posted a message saying “9/11 has impacted our students in deeply personal and emotional ways”? So wildly inappropriate. And that was an event that took place in DC, not halfway across the world.

Also, in a seven paragraph statement full of self-serving bullsh*t, you couldn’t see your way clear to condemn antisemitism even ONCE? Literally, the word antisemitism does not appear. Just generic “we condemn all hate.”

If I was the plaintiffs’ lawyer I’d be thanking my lucky stars right now.

DP. Fwiw, the situation in Gaza is threatening the accreditation of Columbia University and has cost our preeminent colleges and universities billions, literally billions, in science and research grants. But you think it's unrealistic for a private K-8 school to struggle a bit with the issue? Saying "unkind words" seems like a good way to describe children who may learn, rather than permanently dismiss them as irredeemable.

Exactly this. Are we really naive enough to think Israeli could engage on a months-long campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing and that it wouldn't have spillover effects on Jews in other countries, including kids who have absolutely nothing to do with the policies of the Israeli government?

When people pretend otherwise, and simply react with calls for the demonization of other adults and children, that tells me that they aren't interested in recognizing the pain of others or teachable moments and instead want to treat incidents of alleged anti-Semitism as an opportunity to press forward with their own personal and geo-political agendas. We see this in spades with the likes of MAGA tools like Nomani.

And wtf does this have to do with what happened at Nysmith?

the antisemitism threads on DCUM have opened my eyes to how much people actually do hate Jews. Even threads literally about people killed in antisemitic attacks fill up immediately with posters claiming “STFU you are all Hasbara fakers.”

+1

Reading DCUM has turned me more into a supporter of Israel and I say that as someone who attended pro-Palestinian protests for years. I am still a believer in two states, but watching the reaction here has really opened my eyes to just how ingrained antisemitism is. I’m a lot more skeptical of the pro-Palestine movement than I used to be.

Are you really that dense? What do you think the demographics of DCUM are? Do you think there are more Israelis/Jews or Arabs/Palestinians posting here? Go find your remaining braincells and use them.

I mean, there are 400,000 Muslims in the DC area and 300,000 Jews so idk? Probably around the same amount of each if I had to guess.

[Anonymous]

But, Nysmith is in Virginia. I think you will find the stats in this area quite different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone who is actually familiar with the head of school, please explain to me why his Linkedin, his Facebook, and the school website show no education whatsoever for Ken Nysmith. Where did he go to college? Did he drop out? What credentials outside of being a Nysmith, does he have that qualify him to run the school?

He went to York College in Pennsylvania. Business degree. Nysmith is a for-profit school and he runs it like a business. It works most of the time because there's a market for the product he's selling both on the consumer side and on the employee side. Like someone else said you'll get kicked out by him if you're a pain whether that's as a student/family or as a teacher. That was also his mother's philosophy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone who is actually familiar with the head of school, please explain to me why his Linkedin, his Facebook, and the school website show no education whatsoever for Ken Nysmith. Where did he go to college? Did he drop out? What credentials outside of being a Nysmith, does he have that qualify him to run the school?

He went to York College in Pennsylvania. Business degree. Nysmith is a for-profit school and he runs it like a business. It works most of the time because there's a market for the product he's selling both on the consumer side and on the employee side. Like someone else said you'll get kicked out by him if you're a pain whether that's as a student/family or as a teacher. That was also his mother's philosophy.

Kind of keeps complaints pretty low.

I was a teacher. There were certainly parents (only a very few) that I would not have missed. But, to do this willy nilly to the students? That is a very different story. Certainly, I taught troublemakers among others--but I would not have wanted to kick them out.

[Anonymous]

The sad reality is that no matter how wealthy and privileged a parent is, they can’t protect their children from the all the vagaries and pain of life. Sooner or later the cocoon is breached.

[Anonymous]

Looks like Ken is making a business decision. King Abdullah Academy just closed. There is a number of high net worth individuals looking for private school for their kids. This controversy will get him the support of a demographic that will work for him. Pretty slick but totally ok where ever moral and every relationship is a “trade” chip. Bravo, Ken

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like Ken is making a business decision. King Abdullah Academy just closed. There is a number of high net worth individuals looking for private school for their kids. This controversy will get him the support of a demographic that will work for him. Pretty slick but totally ok where ever moral and every relationship is a “trade” chip. Bravo, Ken

I mean, KKA closed from lack of money. No one is chasing their clients...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But, Nysmith is in Virginia. I think you will find the stats in this area quite different.

DP but I genuinely don’t understand what this is getting at. Are you saying more Arabs/Palestinians are posting so posts seem artificially skewed in an antisemitic direction? Or more Jews are posting so the topic comes up more? If the former (setting aside the stereotype), I’m not sure how that’s supposed to make that PP feel any better? Arabs/Palestinians exist everywhere, and plenty of non-Arab people are antisemites too.