Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be taught in schools
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be taught in ethnic studies classes. A handful of Jewish groups are against the new ethnic studies class because they claim that the curriculum teaches the conflict in an antisemitic way, but an explanation of facts cannot be antisemitic as long as it is unbiased.
We feel that this conflict should still be taught even if it makes some people uncomfortable. We learn about the South African apartheid—which was also a deeply rooted conflict between two ethnic groups—so why not learn about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict too?
As long as educators remain unbiased, the conflict is important to teach. Whenever we talk about conflicts anywhere in the world, there are negative aspects that are brought up about both sides, but that doesn’t mean that those groups are demonized. The ethnic studies curriculum aims to teach in an unbiased way and refrain from pointing fingers at one group over another.
The Jewish groups are afraid of receiving more antisemitic hate once people learn about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is a valid fear. While we acknowledge this fear, we believe that it’s still important to teach about the conflict because it is a recent event in history, and it deeply impacts many people. Antisemitism is spoken against strongly throughout
In school we already learn about topics like Japanese internment in the U.S. and the South African Apartheid. The curriculum shows both sides of the issues so that students can see why these things were wrong and how we can learn from them. The Israel-Palestine conflict is no different.
I believe this, along with so many other things, should be taught in school. This topic especially because of the importance and impact it’s had on so many, but sadly not a lot of people know about it, which is partially the school system’s fault. It’s almost not fair that schools don’t teach kids about really important events that are currently happening/recent, but instead we’re forced to learn about meaningless things that happened a long time ago.
It’s important to know that not all Jewish groups are against the ethnic studies course. Many orthodox groups would call anything negative about Israel anti-Semitic– they don’t care whether the curriculum is biased or not, if the facts cast Israel in a non-positive way they’ll oppose it. Groups such as my own that are more secular support the ethnic studies course, and we declined a request to speak in support of the group that took out the advertisement in the CV Forum. The conflict may be more complex than comparable events that are taught in schools already, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taught just because a specific group doesn’t like the way their country acted.
The conflict does get some coverage in history classes, but the hunger for more knowledge on really any subject can sometimes be insatiable. Teaching more about this topic could lead to political stances being taken within classes and divides between people. At the end of the day, people are people, and whatever stance or political view you may take on any situation should be your own. It is difficult to teach a class a subject or event that still is yet to conclude.
This topic should be taught and discussed in schools because it sheds light on a very recent event in history that has impacted two very prominent groups with lots of history between each other. We would be able to learn both sides of the story to be able to understand both perspectives.
i feel nobody has a right to determine what not to teach someone even if its uncomfortable to talk about. i understand the jewish groups concern, but its not as if we are teaching stuff that didn’t happen. all of it did happen and as long as its being teached unbiased we cant be afraid of the truth. we need to learn and grow from these mistakes as a community and understand how it effects us today without fighting with each other again.
This should definitely be taught because there a surprising amount of people I’ve talked to that actually don’t know about this. It’s a major thing happening in the world right now and people should know what’s going on, not just US events.
I think it’s about time schools started talking about the Israeli-Palestinean war. It’s not fair what is happening to the people in Palestine because of the Zionists. I understand Jewish people are afraid of facing anti-semitism or being demonized, but I think this is an important issue that needs to be discussed.
I think a lot of things are left out and not being taught such as the israeli- palestinian conflict. Maybe it’s time we be taught what is going on and get a good understanding of both sides point of view.
This is long overdue, students all around the world should have been taught this many years ago. What is happening in Palestine isn’t right, Jewish groups that fear this being taught are only afraid that the truth of this ¨Conflict¨ is going to come out. It’s unjustice to get such an important topic out of Modern-day studies. We need to shed light on the ongoing events to help make this world a fair and free place.
I really think this should be taught in school. It’s wrong and unfair what is happening to the Palestinian people. No matter how hard it may be to learn about something like this we need to be educated and learn about this injustice.
Its injustice and not fair to whats happening to Palestinian brothers. There a lot to learn and we deserve equality and equal rights.
Stop calling the colonization and ethnic cleansing of Palestine a “conflict.” Labeling it a “conflict” implies that there are two sides, each with similar or equal power and the intent to be equally violent to one another. There is a clear oppressor and an oppressed in this crisis. Continuing to use ignorant language is insensitive and harmful.