9 Mcps Antisemitic incidents since Friday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting no one from the Jewish community was involved in that discussion and it was just a bunch of fluff.

They mentioned multiple times that they are working with the ADL and JCRC.

Why weren't they at the meeting to offer support? Just seemed like a bunch of fluff and no action and her blaming the system for no discipline when she is the system.

mcknight did an event recently , last two years, with a fraternity that made America’s biggest Antisemite a member back in 2019

Who? And what act of violence did this person carry out or plan?

PP is referring to Louis Farrakhan - that the fraternity that gave McKnight the award also at some point celebrated/made Farrakhan a member.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the press conference, in sum, the solutions:
Re-educating teachers and students (via ELA and history from 4th grade up), submitting a bullying report, holding a community rally, and advising parents to teach their kids about racism and bias.

They do not believe in suspensions or discipline, but instead believe the solution is in “healing” through RJ.

How does this square with the other thread where any “bias incident” gets reported to the police?

[Anonymous]

There are white anti-semites at BCC - no need to drag the African-American population in via McKnight. I personally know an anti-semitic kid whose parents appeared to be your normal parents. Kid was privileged and not that bright. - no idea why he espoused the views but IMO he was nit punished enough by his peer/parent community because everyone was worried his future would be ruined vis-a-vis college. Another one was from an Italian diplomat family and was very pro-fascism - as is currently politically acceptable in Italy. And even before McKnight arrived - Westland had a swastika graffiti incident.

IMO, too many parents think that punishing these incidents will make more of them. I feel the reverse, making it known that if kids are caught engaging in racist or anti-semitic slurs or grafitti, it will go on their disciplinary record, will go a long way to deterrence.

[Anonymous]

The Whitman debate team incident is one example of how the disciplinary policies are failing. The perpetrators were suspended from the debate team for a month. They should have been kicked out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Statement from the JCRC, which isn't happy with the improper way MCPS rolls out restorative justice:
JCRC STATEMENT
February 22, 2023

The JCRC is gratified that Dr. McKnight’s remarks today about the cascade of recent antisemitic incidents within MCPS included specific measures being taken to ensure greater accountability for perpetrators of these incidents. Students and their parents must know that there will be serious consequences for the propagation of ugly hatred that deeply, tangibly harms our Jewish students, families and employees and those of other marginalized groups. Suspensions come and go, but hopefully the mandatory involvement of parents and the threat of incidents appearing on students’ permanent records will serve as a deterrent and a strong statement about our school system’s values and priorities.

We remain deeply concerned and angered about the failed implementation of Restorative Justice practices in several recent incidents, which did not follow best practices and caused serious traumatic harm to Jewish students and employees. Despite the fact that restorative justice is premised on the willing, voluntary participation of all parties to the incident, in at least one instance Jewish students were forced to participate in mandatory restorative justice sessions alongside perpetrators of serious antisemitic acts; when the perpetrators refused to fully apologize for their wrongdoing, the Jewish students were not permitted to respond and felt trapped in a profoundly emotionally unsafe space without any support. Other incidents of restorative justice implementation have been similarly counterproductive and harmful. The JCRC has been working collaboratively with MCPS restorative justice professionals to encourage greater cultural competency and sensitivity in doing this work, and we are committed to continuing to do so in partnership with our colleagues at MCPS. We are also addressing the need for strengthened curricula regarding Jewish history, antisemitism, and the Holocaust. In fact, today the JCRC is in Annapolis testifying in support of the passage of a package of bills focused on these precise issues, alongside other members of our community including a Holocaust survivor and a student from Walt Whitman High School.

It is critical that Jewish parents and community members have the opportunity to hear from and engage directly with Dr. McKnight, which they will have the opportunity to do at two JCRC town halls with the Superintendent in March, to be held at Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac and Temple Sholom in Silver Spring.

We look forward to those discussions.

I'm glad that someone is forcing MCPS to reckon with just how sloppy and ill-prepared it is to implement restorative justice. There's some merit to the philosophy and theory, but there's a long way to go with regard to effective implementation.

I appreciate the JCRC's work. Some ideas and programs simply can't be implemented without expertise and sufficient resources. I hope MCPS will take note.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone attend the ADL meeting tonight - how did it go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the high school I teach at we have had one incident. The principal made an announcement but that is it.

Honestly, I think it is better to not give more attention to the issue. If we make a big deal about it, I think it would actually encourage kids to mess around more as an act of rebellion.

There is a huge lack of boundaries in school right now, so kids are doing more extreme acts in order to rebel and stand out.

Would you say it was just kids messing around if they were targeting black people or Hispanics or really any other minority?

Describing it this way really minimizes what is going on. These kids know what they’re doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are white anti-semites at BCC - no need to drag the African-American population in via McKnight. I personally know an anti-semitic kid whose parents appeared to be your normal parents. Kid was privileged and not that bright. - no idea why he espoused the views but IMO he was nit punished enough by his peer/parent community because everyone was worried his future would be ruined vis-a-vis college. Another one was from an Italian diplomat family and was very pro-fascism - as is currently politically acceptable in Italy. And even before McKnight arrived - Westland had a swastika graffiti incident.

IMO, too many parents think that punishing these incidents will make more of them. I feel the reverse, making it known that if kids are caught engaging in racist or anti-semitic slurs or grafitti, it will go on their disciplinary record, will go a long way to deterrence.

Mcps needs to take a no tolerance approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting no one from the Jewish community was involved in that discussion and it was just a bunch of fluff.

They mentioned multiple times that they are working with the ADL and JCRC.

Why weren't they at the meeting to offer support? Just seemed like a bunch of fluff and no action and her blaming the system for no discipline when she is the system.

mcknight did an event recently , last two years, with a fraternity that made America’s biggest Antisemite a member back in 2019

Who? And what act of violence did this person carry out or plan?

PP is referring to Louis Farrakhan - that the fraternity that gave McKnight the award also at some point celebrated/made Farrakhan a member.

I could not care less what she does on her personal time but she needs to step up and be a leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting no one from the Jewish community was involved in that discussion and it was just a bunch of fluff.

They mentioned multiple times that they are working with the ADL and JCRC.

Why weren't they at the meeting to offer support? Just seemed like a bunch of fluff and no action and her blaming the system for no discipline when she is the system.

mcknight did an event recently , last two years, with a fraternity that made America’s biggest Antisemite a member back in 2019

Who? And what act of violence did this person carry out or plan?

PP is referring to Louis Farrakhan - that the fraternity that gave McKnight the award also at some point celebrated/made Farrakhan a member.

I could not care less what she does on her personal time but she needs to step up and be a leader.

Louis Farrakhan is a vile person. Her association with him makes me trust her less on this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the high school I teach at we have had one incident. The principal made an announcement but that is it.

Honestly, I think it is better to not give more attention to the issue. If we make a big deal about it, I think it would actually encourage kids to mess around more as an act of rebellion.

There is a huge lack of boundaries in school right now, so kids are doing more extreme acts in order to rebel and stand out.

Would you say it was just kids messing around if they were targeting black people or Hispanics or really any other minority?

Describing it this way really minimizes what is going on. These kids know what they’re doing.

Wondering if this attention has been somewhat counterproductive, possibly leading to increased incidents? Similar to why media doesn’t report the names of shooters, to discourage copycats from seeking fame in this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the high school I teach at we have had one incident. The principal made an announcement but that is it.

Honestly, I think it is better to not give more attention to the issue. If we make a big deal about it, I think it would actually encourage kids to mess around more as an act of rebellion.

There is a huge lack of boundaries in school right now, so kids are doing more extreme acts in order to rebel and stand out.

Would you say it was just kids messing around if they were targeting black people or Hispanics or really any other minority?

Describing it this way really minimizes what is going on. These kids know what they’re doing.

Wondering if this attention has been somewhat counterproductive, possibly leading to increased incidents? Similar to why media doesn’t report the names of shooters, to discourage copycats from seeking fame in this way.

So should we ignore all hate crimes? Or just the ones against Jews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the high school I teach at we have had one incident. The principal made an announcement but that is it.

Honestly, I think it is better to not give more attention to the issue. If we make a big deal about it, I think it would actually encourage kids to mess around more as an act of rebellion.

There is a huge lack of boundaries in school right now, so kids are doing more extreme acts in order to rebel and stand out.

Would you say it was just kids messing around if they were targeting black people or Hispanics or really any other minority?

Describing it this way really minimizes what is going on. These kids know what they’re doing.

Wondering if this attention has been somewhat counterproductive, possibly leading to increased incidents? Similar to why media doesn’t report the names of shooters, to discourage copycats from seeking fame in this way.

So should we ignore all hate crimes? Or just the ones against Jews.

Not drawing more attention than necessary is not the same as ignoring all hate crimes.

[Anonymous]

Do we know the race of the perpertrators? The reason for restorative justice is otherwise we are sending POC students down a path that can reinforce the school to prison pipeline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting no one from the Jewish community was involved in that discussion and it was just a bunch of fluff.

They mentioned multiple times that they are working with the ADL and JCRC.

Why weren't they at the meeting to offer support? Just seemed like a bunch of fluff and no action and her blaming the system for no discipline when she is the system.

mcknight did an event recently , last two years, with a fraternity that made America’s biggest Antisemite a member back in 2019

Who? And what act of violence did this person carry out or plan?

PP is referring to Louis Farrakhan - that the fraternity that gave McKnight the award also at some point celebrated/made Farrakhan a member.

I could not care less what she does on her personal time but she needs to step up and be a leader.

Louis Farrakhan is a vile person. Her association with him makes me trust her less on this issue.

While I completely agree with you, I don't care if she chooses to associate with him. I judge based off action. Her actions are failing our kids. Granted she inherited a mess but that mess is only getting worse. She made strange comments about the system needing improvement but she is the system so she needs to make the decisions to improve it. Start with opening up another school for kids with behavioral problems and get these kids out so the rest of our kids can be safe and learn.