Public school leaders testified before Congress on Wednesday that teachers and administrators who engage in antisemitic behavior or fail to address it effectively are often not fired from their positions. The leaders from three public school districts shared their experiences during a hearing titled “Confronting Pervasive Antisemitism in K-12 Schools.”
Erika Sanzi, director of outreach for Parents Defending Education, described this lack of consequences as “passing the trash,” where educators who engage in misconduct are simply moved to different positions within the district instead of being terminated. She highlighted the role of unions in protecting these employees.
David Banks, chancellor of New York City Public Schools, explained that the reluctance to terminate staff members was due to unions and the need to follow a due process. However, members of Congress pressed him on specific incidents, including one at Hillcrest High School where a Jewish teacher was targeted by students.
Despite investigations and disciplinary actions taken against faculty members accused of promoting hate speech or antisemitism, no teachers had been fired as a result. The leaders emphasized the importance of imposing consequences for such behavior, but acknowledged the challenges in dealing with these issues within the school system.
