Dare to Be Different – A Response to Parkway

Last night (Oct. 28), Solomon Schechter Day School of St. Louis partnered with B’nai Amoona and Shaare Shalom religious schools in offering a program to support diversity and promote strong Jewish identity among Jewish Middle School students in St. Louis. Nearly 100 students and 45 parents attended this workshop, which included adult and student activities.

The program, Dare to be Different, offered children a glimpse into the various kinds of discrimination that other groups have experienced in American history, including the reality of anti-Semitism.

The program began as students broke into small groups to explore the experiences of several different minorities, including incidents of prejudice or intolerance that they have faced. Many students were surprised to learn that classified advertisements for employment in the 1860s sometimes declared “No Irish Need Apply” or that Chinese immigrants faced violent attacks in Los Angeles and Tacoma.

The reality of anti-Semitism in America was brought home by video clips from the 1947 film “Gentleman’s Agreement” as well as more recent photos of graffiti left on Jewish community sites.

The program closed with a brief set of exercises to empower children and offer them concrete ways of responding to discrimination of any kind.

While the student program took place, adults broke into a parent forum, led by Rabbi Allen Selis, headmaster of the Solomon Schechter Day School.

At the parent forum, Rabbi Selis praised the Parkway administration for responding promptly and effectively to the “Hit a Jew” incident, with support from the St. Louis office of the Anti Defamation League. Parents expressed a strong desire to see the community more coordinated in supporting diversity in the schools, a stance that St. Louis ADL Director Karen Aroesty praised.

Rabbi Mark Fasman of Congregation Shaare Zedek affirmed the community’s desire to build and strengthen our children’s Jewish identities as a way of enabling our next generation to be more secure and better equipped to engage their peers in an increasingly diverse world.

Following the program, Rabbi Selis praised Michael Raileanu of Shaare Shalom and Jennifer Newfeld of B’nai Amoona for their creativity and openness to working in partnership. “In moments like this, our entire community must stand together. I’m so pleased we have the leadership to make that happen.”

Rabbi Allen Selis - Head of School
The Solomon Schechter Day School of St. Louis

Dare to be Different: Standing up Against Discrimination

SSDS Hosts Diversity Event in Response to Parkway Incident

In response to the recent incident in the Parkway School District, Solomon Schechter Day School, in partnership with B’nai Amoona and Shaare Shalom religious schools, invited the Jewish community to stand up proudly for diversity at a special event for students and parents on Tuesday, October 28th. “Dare to be Different” highlighted the experiences of many different groups who have faced and overcome discrimination in American life. The program was free and open to the community.

The event included a Youth Program, open to the whole community, grades 5-8: with sessions entitled Don’t Label Me…, Anti-Semitism in America and Taking a Stand. Afterwards, parents participated in an Adult Forum.

Check back on jewishinstlouis.org for more details and photos from this important event.

It’s About Education, Education, Education

True, it doesn’t sound terribly sexy, but the answer to Hit A Jew Day is about fundamentals. It is shocking that a 6th grader would actually hit a fellow student for a personal characteristic that may go to one’s deepest identity. Anti-bias education is mandated. It’s not going to be an overnight fix. The process will take some time.

ADL has presented Parkway West with No Place For Hate®, an anti-bias campaign that encourages different education activities to teach acceptance and respect and build community. I know the title makes us uncomfortable, but we have to accept that hate and bias happen daily, and we can’t talk circles around it, we have to address it head-on. I believe the school and the district are responding appropriately. We look forward to working with them, and all program providers, in the coming year.

The kids involved are not hateful; they need to learn the impact of their behavior. Parkway West may also have a situation where one or more were badly bullied and then became perpetrators themselves. We would hope that this is isolated to a unique event that will not repeat itself. But it has, and it will.

This episode occurred among unique circumstances. Anti-Semitic behavior against Orthodox families in University City, who were very visible over the High Holidays, increased. They were shouted at by drivers while walking to and from shul, and I’m certain not all incidents were reported. The city is also investigating a hate crime after 2 families were assaulted with eggs thrown by a passing driver. A remarkable case will soon be before the Missouri Court of Appeals, involving some members of a St. Louis County jury whose alleged anti-Semitism may have affected the verdict against the defendant, a Jewish doctor.

As we say, anti-Semitism is not history. It’s a current event.

Karen J. Aroesty
Regional Director - Missouri/Southern Illinois
ADL - Anti-Defamation League - http://www.adl.org/
314.432.6868 (v) / karoesty@adl.org

JCRC Statement on the Incident at Parkway West Middle School

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) regrets the recent hurtful activity of a small number of students at Parkway West Middle School who disregarded the impact of words and actions on others and did not treat their fellow students with dignity and respect.

We appreciate the immediate and appropriate response by the administration of the school and of the Parkway School District. These school officials should be allowed to do their jobs, and should be supported in these efforts.

This is a time to once again focus on the necessity of promoting respect for diversity and pluralism as a basic value for our entire community. By celebrating our region’s rich diversity, we enable children and adults alike to feel safe and secure in who they are.

We look forward to working with Parkway West Middle School and the Parkway School District in enhancing communication and developing areas of cooperation and collaboration.

President Leonard Frankel
Executive Director Batya Abramson-Goldstein

#12 Millstone Campus Drive St. Louis, MO 63146 E-mail: jcrc@jcrcstl.org 314-442-3871

Open Letter from Parkway's Superintendent

Dear Parkway Community,
It is with both sadness and a sense of outrage that I share this letter with you. Many of you may have heard about a distressing incident that occurred at Parkway West Middle School over the past week. I have heard from a number of you who are understandably angry and upset. I, too, am angry.

First and foremost, I want to publicly apologize for the actions of the students involved. I also want to share some of the facts surrounding the situation and let you know what we are doing about it. Additionally, I want to ask for your help as we work together carefully and constructively to move forward in a positive way for our students and community.

Last week, several sixth-graders at West Middle started their own unofficial "spirit-type" activities in the hallways. These activities occurred without the knowledge of teachers or administrators until Monday evening, October 20. What initially began as harmless fun including hugs and high-fives, somehow sadly turned into slaps or hits directed at Jewish students and tall students. Clearly this is unacceptable behavior that will not be tolerated in the Parkway School District. We pride ourselves on being a very diverse learning community that celebrates, respects and honors all voices. I am ashamed and disappointed that this has occurred in one of our schools.

After learning of the situation, the school principal immediately responded. On Tuesday morning she assembled the sixth-graders into the gym, during which time she expressed her outrage and sadness that not only did several students participate in these activities, but that others who knew about it did not immediately step in and stand up for their friends or tell an adult what had happened. She informed the students that anyone involved would be held accountable for their actions in accordance with Parkway’s discipline policy. After the assembly, she began her investigation and sent a letter home to all parents the following day to let them know what had happened and ask for their help in identifying those responsible.

While the investigation is still being conducted, it appears as though five students were directly involved. These students have been immediately suspended and will likely face additional consequences pending the final recommendations of the Discipline Review Committee, which reports to me.

It is hard to understand why these 11- and 12-year-olds acted in such a disrespectful manner. We work very hard in Parkway to teach students appropriate behavior and on any given day the majority of our 18,000 students do just that. But we cannot use this as an excuse to minimize the gravity of what these students have done. It is painful and hurtful and we are committed to doing whatever we can to ensure it does not happen again.

I ask for your support and involvement in this effort and hope by working together we can fulfill our obligation to educate our students and prepare them to be successful, contributing members of a democratic society.

Sincerely,
Robert Malito, Ph.D. Superintendent

Community Leaders Meet to Discuss Parkway Response

On Friday, October 24th, a dozen representatives from the St. Louis rabbinical community, Jewish organizations and educators gathered to explore a community response to the disturbing events at Parkway West Middle School. The meeting was convened by the Jewish Community Relations Council.

According to JCRC Executive Director, Batya Abramson-Goldstein, "The focus was on a community response to what is clearly an issue that needs addressing. And we agreed that this issue must be addressed in a careful and constructive way." Abramson-Goldstein says the group basically decided that each congregation, organization, agency or school should formulate responses that are appropriate for their own constituency. Abramson-Goldstein expects additional developments and JCRC plans to issue a formal soon..

Rabbi Rosenberg at United Hebrew is planning an assembly at Hebrew School on Sunday to discuss the matter with her students.

UH to Hold 'Tolerance' Assembly About Parkway Incident

Some United Hebrew religious school students were involved. Discussion to include kids grades 6-10.

United Hebrew Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg and Cheryl Watley, director of education, will facilitate an assembly of 100-plus religious school students in grades 6 – 10 this Sunday (Oct. 26) to talk about the “Hit a Jew Day” incident at Parkway West Middle School.

“The assembly will focus on tolerance and what it means to be singled out as a Jews…or singled out for anything,” said Rabbi Rosenberg. “A small incident like this can lead to something larger and we want the students to understand the significance of what happened.”

Rabbi Rosenberg added that such issues will be addressed as “why adults are making such a big deal of this, how do we react when things like this happen, who do we tell, who supports us, how do we do we handle or report this without everyone making fun of us if we tell a teacher. The kids will also be asked to talk about instances of when they’ve been singled out because they’re Jewish and how they reacted.”

The assembly will be followed up with a mailing of talking points to all parents of students to help them discuss prejudice and tolerance with their children at home.

We’re All Victims

Rabbi Allen Selis, Head of School
The Solomon Schechter Day School of St. Louis

I asked a difficult question at the end of my third-period Rabbinics class at Solomon Schechter today (Oct. 23, 2008). “How many of you heard the news?” and “What should we do about it?” In response to the first question, every student but one raised their hands to say, “Yes, we heard about ‘hit a Jew day’ at Parkway.”

I was stunned—not just about how fast my students had learned what had happened, but how much detail they had. Some had younger friends at Parkway. Others described which subgroup had started the idea for this unofficial prank in the midst of Parkway’s spirit week...how it got out of hand…and who they knew that it might impact.

In response to “What should we do about it?” there were no hands raised. My students were confused, angry and wholly unsure about what to make of this incident, or how to respond. One of my most thoughtful students came up to me, upset at the suggestion that our entire middle school would gather to discuss the matter. “We’ve talked about anti-Semitism before. Again? Why?” My answer to her is the same answer that I offer our entire community. We need desperately to speak about this incident.

Here is why.

While the victims of harassment at Parkway West Middle School were identified and in some cases bullied for being Jews, I don’t see this as an affront to Jews alone. I view this as an attack on community, an attack on diversity…but at the same time, an important opportunity for us to learn a critical lesson.

If you are an adolescent, the most frightening message of “hit a Jew day” is that it’s not safe – or okay -- to be different from your peers. We live at a time and in a culture that celebrates individuality, but just as often punishes dissenters. Our kids feel pressure to look alike, to sound alike and to act alike. How else could such a senseless and offensive act of intimidation take place?

We, as Jews, are not the only ones in this society who proudly claim the right to be different, and to express our difference with pride. We are joined by people from many diverse backgrounds who insist that you may be a respected member of your school and community as a Muslim, as an immigrant from another country, as a person of color or a person whose sexual orientation is different from others. We celebrate the richness that those differences add to our society. And yet, difference still inspires both fear and a relentless, irrational need to make outsiders of those whose voices, whose faith, whose skin color is unique. This week was an attack on all of those potential outsiders—not just the small percentage of students who are Jewish.

Part of the journey from childhood to maturity involves learning to focus on the needs of others more than just ourselves. This includes a commitment to hear different points of view and to appreciate people whose beliefs, whose lifestyles and whose deepest values might be different from our own.

Children…schools…even entire communities…face the challenge of learning this lesson. They succeed when courageous leaders defend the right to be different. When individuals model this acceptance and respect in their own conduct. And when our public institutions are held accountable to such high standards.

On behalf of every child in St. Louis who deserves the right to be different, it’s time for us all to talk about the real victims of “hit a Jew day,” because they are all of us.

Rabbi Allen Selis, Head of School
The Solomon Schechter Day School of St. Louis