Rep. Burgess Owens, Utah Republican, speaks at a press conference about K-12 antisemitism with Jewish students and parents on May 8, 2024, by Parents Defending Education in Washington, D.C. Leaders of some of the nation’s leading school districts went before Congress to defend their records of combating rising K-12 antisemitism, but lawmakers were skeptical any of them would be making the honor roll.
That included the principal of Hillcrest High School in Queens, who lost his job in November after an anti-Israel riot in the hallway to demand a pro-Israel teacher’s resignation, prompting her to lock herself in her classroom for two hours. The hearing before the House Education and the Workforce subcommittee on secondary education was the first to be held on K-12 antisemitism since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on Israel, which prompted Israel to declare war.
“But ultimately, we are not going to suspend our way to inclusion and acceptance,” he said. “I believe that hate is learned — and to reverse it, we must start a conversation.” Karla Silvestre, Montgomery County Board of Education president, said that the district took disciplinary action against teachers. “We do not shy away from imposing consequences for hateful behavior, including antisemitism,” she said.