Teachers Plan to Inculcate Children with Anti Israel Propaganda

scribblet · January 17, 2007

I'm appalled that they would be attempting this kind of indoctrination of their political views on their children. At the very least they should have an Israeli spokesperson giving their side of the issue.

Inculcating our children with teacher's anti Israel left wing views is unnacceptable, I will be writing the board and the union about this.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.h...a5-cfc5670e66b3

Teaching, not preaching

National Post Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2007

If a motion passes later this week, Toronto-area members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) will be officially encouraged to lecture their students on "Israel's continued violation of the human rights of Palestinians."

Back in December, the OSSTF had planned to table a similarly biased motion -- expressing support for international boycott campaigns against Israel -- but it was ultimately withdrawn. This time, however, the union plans to go beyond mere symbols: The teachers intend to develop curricular materials that examine "Israel's treatment of the Palestinians."

article clipped

sharkman · January 17, 2007

Regardless of what side of the issue you come down on, teachers shouldn't be instructed to give only one side of an issue. What kind of education is that?

Shakeyhands · January 17, 2007

I think we get a pretty good view of the Israeli side of the story via our media outlets, while I agree that there is no harm in discussing the Palestinian perspectice, it should be balanced with the Israeli side WITHIN THE SAME discussion in the classroom.

Figleaf · January 17, 2007

I've posted the whole article as a subscription is required to read it.

It looks more like an editorial than an article, since it uses 'we think'.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.h...a5-cfc5670e66b3
Teaching, not preaching

National Post Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2007

...We think teachers ... can even talk to kids about serious current events --if they're capable of doing so in a respectful and balanced way. But when it comes to the Middle East conflict, we'd appreciate if they'd keep their views to themselves.

Hmmm. There appears to be one or another implict assumption at work there: First, that the middle east ought never to be discussed. Or at least that teachers would be incapable of discussing the middle east conflict in a 'respectful' (whatever that may mean) and balanced way. Of course what is really at work in the hearts and minds at the National Post is the former, not the latter.

scribblet · January 17, 2007

Hmmm. There appears to be one or another implict assumption at work there: First, that the middle east ought never to be discussed. Or at least that teachers would be incapable of discussing the middle east conflict in a 'respectful' (whatever that may mean) and balanced way. Of course what is really at work in the hearts and minds at the National Post is the former, not the latter.

There is no such assumption implicit or otherwise. The conflict could be discussed during the appropriate subject, but both sides have to be presented in a fair and balanced manner.

This is not the first time that a labour union has tried to impose their left wing international views, but as the article said, it is particularly appalling that it is a teacher's union doing this. Our children should be taught the necessary skills, not being taught propaganda one behalf Hamas.

guyser · January 17, 2007

I suspect that all of this is a tempest in teacup...it will go no further than the last attempt.

kimmy · January 17, 2007

Is there any explanation for the OTF's apparent interest in anti-Israel activism? Is this a grassroots policy within the federation, or is it from somebody at the top with an axe to grind?

-k

Figleaf · January 17, 2007

Hmmm. There appears to be one or another implict assumption at work there: First, that the middle east ought never to be discussed. Or at least that teachers would be incapable of discussing the middle east conflict in a 'respectful' (whatever that may mean) and balanced way. Of course what is really at work in the hearts and minds at the National Post is the former, not the latter.

There is no such assumption implicit or otherwise. The conflict could be discussed during the appropriate subject, but both sides have to be presented in a fair and balanced manner.

If there is no concern that the teachers won't be fair and balanced, then what is the Post whinging on about?

stignasty · January 17, 2007

If a motion passes later this week, Toronto-area members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) will be officially encouraged to lecture their students on "Israel's continued violation of the human rights of Palestinians."

Just a couple of things. First, there's a big if involved. If a motion passes later this week. . . All that's really saying is that someone has managed to get the item onto the agenda. It doesn't mean that all teachers will be forced to teach that Israel is evil.

The other thing is that this will not be a statement of curriculum. Teachers will be encouraged to address the topic. They're not being discouraged from voicing the opposing viewpoint.

The article is an opinion piece that was designed to provoke an emotional response from people who support Israel. Evidently it was successful.

sharkman · January 17, 2007

The teacher's union, which deals with working conditions and issues, has neither the mandate or the know how to make any such 'suggestions' whatsoever to teachers in their union. That they are abusing their power to influence what teachers cover in the classroom is what is concerning here. If they were trying to similarly influence teachers to cover religious morals in a positive way perhaps those who shrug their shoulders about the Israel topic would see the light.

stignasty · January 17, 2007

If they were trying to similarly influence teachers to cover religious morals in a positive way perhaps those who shrug their shoulders about the Israel topic would see the light.

Until they pass the motion, they're not doing anything to influence anyone. You're making a mountain (Teachers Plan to Inculcate Children with Anti Israel Propaganda) out of a molehill (Union will encourage teachers to lecture their students on "Israel's continued violation of the human rights of Palestinians.").

Saturn · January 17, 2007

Regardless of what side of the issue you come down on, teachers shouldn't be instructed to give only one side of an issue. What kind of education is that?

ARe you implying that they should give Hitler's side of the story too?

madmax · January 17, 2007

If a motion passes later this week,

I will stop reading there.

And this belongs in Provincial Politics.

OSSTF is Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation

It has nothing to do with Federal Politics.

guyser · January 17, 2007

ARe you implying that they should give Hitler's side of the story too?

Why not?

Its history after all.

scribblet · January 17, 2007

The teacher's union, which deals with working conditions and issues, has neither the mandate or the know how to make any such 'suggestions' whatsoever to teachers in their union. That they are abusing their power to influence what teachers cover in the classroom is what is concerning here. If they were trying to similarly influence teachers to cover religious morals in a positive way perhaps those who shrug their shoulders about the Israel topic would see the light.

Agreed. Unions should stick to the reason for being; improving working wages and working conditions etc. The Teachers shouldo provide the means and skills to form an opinion. It' is another thing, when the goal is to sway the student to one view, to the exclusion of all others.

The job of the teacher is to teach, without instilling any political bias.

Ricki Bobbi · January 18, 2007

Could you imagine the outrage if the Provincial Government tried to get teachers to lecture their students on the continuation of Palestinian's breaking international law?

stignasty · January 18, 2007

Could you imagine the outrage if the Provincial Government tried to get teachers to lecture their students on the continuation of Palestinian's breaking international law?

Would it be as ridiculous as the outrage voiced in this thread and in the National Post?

August1991 · January 18, 2007

I've posted the whole article as a subscription is required to read it.

Scriblett, you should know better. We are not supposed to paste copyrighted material here and if an article is behind a subscription wall, then it's obvious the owner wants to protect it.

As to the report itself, the provincial ministry of education is responsible for curriculum, not the teacher's union. It appears that some teachers want their union to develop teaching materials and presumably lobby the ministry to change the curriculum. That's hardly new.

The motion put forward by Jason Kunin, an English teacher and Jewish activist who has frequently criticized Israeli government policies, and Hyssam Hulays, a computer science teacher, decries "Israel's continued violation of the human rights of Palestinians."
Among other things, the Toronto teachers want the union to develop classroom materials on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and to support an international boycott of Israel.

...

Rhonda Kimberley-Young, provincial president of the 60,000-member teachers federation, said she was "disappointed" at the attention paid to a motion that hadn't even been discussed yet.

CanWest

It seems to me that unions should protect their members' interests. Unions should not be involved international politics.

It also seems to me that public sector unions need reform but I'm not going to hold my breath.

madmax · January 18, 2007

I've posted the whole article as a subscription is required to read it.
I'm appalled that they would be attempting this kind of indoctrination of their political views on their children. At the very least they should have an Israeli spokesperson giving their side of the issue.

Inculcating our children with teacher's anti Israel left wing views is unnacceptable, I will be writing the board and the union about this.

August 1991 has included a quote that appears to be from the article that the "Anti Israeli" is a Jewish activist.

I was wondering, was this not in the post article, or did you fail to include here?

Now, I am certain, in fact positive, that there are other Jewish teachers in the OSSTF, that may have a different view of this motion.

Remiel · January 18, 2007

I'd like to point out that it is really almost impossible to teach anything without at least a little bias. Nothing is completely neutral.

You bring an up an interesting point though, Ricki Bobbi. If there was an effort to teach " anti-Palestinian propaganda " , it would not be scriblett and sharkman who would be decrying it, outraged, even though the " propaganda " would be no less worrisome.

In any case, using an obscure or rarely-used word like " inculcate " was ill-advised. My vocabulary could easily be considered above average, yet I don't think I had ever heard of it before now. Looking it up in my new dictionary though (which I got for Christmas, proving a useful gift), I don't think you were really even using it in the intended way.

" Inculcate " implies frequency and repetition, which seems more like technique for learning your multiplication tables or being drilled like they do in some foreign school systems. Though I don't know if it has a connotation, I would say it almost sounds like it implies brainwashing of a sort.

BC_chick · January 18, 2007

I've posted the whole article as a subscription is required to read it.
I'm appalled that they would be attempting this kind of indoctrination of their political views on their children. At the very least they should have an Israeli spokesperson giving their side of the issue.

Inculcating our children with teacher's anti Israel left wing views is unnacceptable, I will be writing the board and the union about this.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.h...a5-cfc5670e66b3

Teaching, not preaching

National Post Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2007

If a motion passes later this week, Toronto-area members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) will be officially encouraged to lecture their students on "Israel's continued violation of the human rights of Palestinians."

Back in December, the OSSTF had planned to table a similarly biased motion -- expressing support for international boycott campaigns against Israel -- but it was ultimately withdrawn. This time, however, the union plans to go beyond mere symbols: The teachers intend to develop curricular materials that examine "Israel's treatment of the Palestinians."

We've seen this sort of thing from Canadian labour unions before, of course: Bodies that were originally formed to protect the employment rights of their members ignorantly embrace fashionable left-wing international causes that have nothing to do with their raison-d'etre. But it is especially appalling to see this pattern being played out by a teachers' union: The people we entrust with our children should be teaching them basic skills -- not spreading propaganda on behalf of the Palestinian Authority's Hamas-led government.

We think teachers should stick with what they do best: Teach the kids how to add numbers, read a book, write an essay, perform a science experiment. Heck, they can even talk to kids about serious current events --if they're capable of doing so in a respectful and balanced way. But when it comes to the Middle East conflict, we'd appreciate if they'd keep their views to themselves.

Oh God, first it was evolution, then Global-warming, now criticism of Israel?!?!?

Geez, these lefty-hysterics can never tell fact from fiction eh?

geoffrey · January 18, 2007

BC Chick,

That's not even comparable. Dealing with science is far more black and white than international politics. Condemnation of Israel exclusively is unacceptable in our education system. I'd like to see teachers make suggestions about how Israel can better manage the situation, but we need to make it clear to kids in school that terrorism is unacceptable (Palestinians in a majority support Hamas, remember that) and that it will ultimately be punished.

Ricki Bobbi · January 18, 2007

Oh God, first it was evolution, then Global-warming, now criticism of Israel?!?!?
Geez, these lefty-hysterics can never tell fact from fiction eh?

What are you saying?

Are you equating people who favour the existence of Israel with those who advocate creationism and deny global warming?

Is your sense of entitlement blinding you to the clear wrongs in this resolution? That unions should be dictating school curriculums? That the classroom isn't the place for political advocacy?

BC_chick · January 18, 2007

That's not even comparable. Dealing with science is far more black and white than international politics.

True. But the article cited discusses teaching about human-rights violations in Israel which are indisputable facts (whether or not such human rights violations are justified or not is where the politics actually begin, and that is not what is being expressed here).

Given that we hear about suicide-bombings every day, yet we hardly ever hear about the human-rights violations on the part of Israel, I can understand why the teacher's union would propose balancing the two FACTS.

Condemnation of Israel exclusively is unacceptable in our education system. I'd like to see teachers make suggestions about how Israel can better manage the situation

I did not see where you got the exclusively part from.

but we need to make it clear to kids in school that terrorism is unacceptable (Palestinians in a majority support Hamas, remember that) and that it will ultimately be punished.

First off, there is no indication that such a curriculum would excuse terrorism as somehow being acceptable. Criticising Israel and rejecting terrorism are not mutually exclusive.

Secondly, your justification that Palestinians voted for Hamas thereby creating a fair-game of collective punishment against them, is the exact same rationale terrorists use when blowing up pizza parlours and crashing planes into buildings. They also believe civilians are fair game since they voted for, and since they support their politicians. You may want to reconsider your stance.

Civilians must always remain sacred no matter who they voted for. Remember, we call people terrorists when they can't make that distinction.

Ricki Bobbi · January 18, 2007

You bring an up an interesting point though, Ricki Bobbi. If there was an effort to teach " anti-Palestinian propaganda " , it would not be scriblett and sharkman who would be decrying it, outraged, even though the " propaganda " would be no less worrisome.
In any case, using an obscure or rarely-used word like " inculcate " was ill-advised.

Who knows who would be decrying it?

I think my question was fair.

I still find it very odd how you get teacher's and the jewish community both supporting the Ontario Liberals.

To confirm 'inculcate' was the OPs word not mine, but I think he used it fairly. Inclucate can be associated with an attempt to brainwash somebody. That's the fear I got from the OP that teacher's would use this new found ability to advocate for Palestinians as a means of turning the opinion of their student's against Israel.