This is from the Newtonite’s Facebook page… [Updated Oct 9, 2018]
In response to bias allegations against North history teachers, faculty will stand out at the corner of Elm and Walnut Street to show solidarity before school at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, according to English teacher Kate Mannelly.
Teachers and the administration have been grappling with accusations of anti-conservative and anti-Semitic bias against specific teachers published by The Federalist and Fox News over the past few months. Fifteen teachers from different departments across the school have formed a committee to help coordinate this standout as a response.
“I have two main goals for this standout,” said Mannelly, “One is to show some solidarity and that we support our teachers that are under attack, and two is to show that we won’t stand for hate speech, that we won’t be bullied by hate groups that are trying to attack our teachers.”
“I know how passionate our staff and faculty are and how we care for one another,” said Mannelly.
The standout is “not a school event” according to a collective statement from teachers involved, though they “look forward to standing alongside the entire community” at a public hearing that will be held later this fall.
Good for them. And I am still happy that Superintendent Fleishman had their back in the midst of these attacks.
Do we know if they would like parents to join them?
Great. Anything we can do to show our support???
I asked the question on the Facebook post, so check there for an answer (and I’ll post here if I see it first).
I can only imagine that folks who want to be supportive should show up and stand with them. I plan on doing so.
I hate that the teachers have to defend themselves against incriminations from these foolish people. I am in complete solidarity and wish I could be there.
Is this related in any way to the accusations of antisemitic bias in the history department?
I will be there as well. Someone give me a good poster line. Happy to make more than one.
Response from Newtonite on Facebook:
“Hi! We are currently waiting to hear back from teachers about this. However, according to the teachers, there will be a public hearing coming up in the next few months where community support would be much appreciated. We will post update once more information is available.”
(edited to remove a name by request. Substance of the comment is unchanged)
So we’ll support them doubly. Definitely will be there!
I am so tired of this. They won’t be happy until they destroy everything!!!
The action planned for Thursday, October 11th is being organized by teachers for teachers. Several of our own have been attacked in the most unprincipled way by hatemongers whose intention is to harass us into silence. The result of these attacks is that Newton teachers have been subjected to threats of violence. “Americans for Peace and Tolerance” and its allies do not want us to teach according to the values held closely by the people of Newton. Our action on Thursday is an opportunity for us to show solidarity with our colleagues who have been the subject of these attacks. It’s also an opportunity for us to make it clear that we will not be cowed. The attack on Newton teachers is ultimately an attack on the whole community and the values of the community. We’ve been thrilled by the overwhelming support by the people of Newton for us as individual teachers and for Newton Public Schools generally. We hope this support continues and grows. We ask that the people of Newton inform themselves by going to http://www.newteach.org/topic/news/ and read both “In Defense of Critical Thinking” and “Federalist Article Comments.” We ask the people of Newton to let their School Committee members know that they stand by the schools and their teachers. We ask that the entire community come out in defense of Newton Public Schools when the School Committee will address the “concerns” of those attacking our schools, tentatively scheduled for late November. We are not, however, asking students and/or parents to join us on the morning of October 11th. This is not a school event and we have not reached out to anyone other than our fellow colleagues to participate. It’s important for us to stand together this Thursday as teachers in solidarity, and we look forward to standing alongside the entire community at the public hearing later this fall.
Why is the school committee holding a public hearing on these unsubstantiated attacks?