Ward 5 School Committee contest candidate Lev Agranovich declined to participate in NewTV/League of Women Voters forums that we’ve been featuring here on Village 14. But he did elect to take NewTV up on the offer to create a “candidates message.” Here’s both of the Ward 5 candidates: Emily Prenner and Lev Agranovich
Decision 2019: Emily Prenner from NewTV Government on Vimeo.
Decision 2019: Lev Agranovich from NewTV Government on Vimeo.
Lev Agranovich’s statement addressed a number of important school issues – the School Dept budget, teacher/student ratios, student stress, teacher salaries, high school start times. In his introduction he did make a passing reference to
“injection of political agendas” and “anti-Semitism in the classroom” but never returned to the topic.
This is a bit odd since back in the summer while collecting signatures for the ballot he made clear that “eliminating anti-Semitism from Newton School curricula” was the focus of his campaign.
The Americans for Peace and Tolerance years long campaign to paint the Newton Schools as systematically anti-Semitic and indoctrinating students with an anti-Semitic agenda has been a destructive side show based on specious claims that have been investigated and dismissed by the state’s Dept of Education. Their newspapers ads, their busing of protesters in from New York, their targeting of individual teachers has had a chilling and destructive effect on the schools.
It would appear that Lev Agranovich’s candidacy is the latest broadside in APT’s ongoing campaign against the Newton Schools. That is absolutely fine and Mr Agranovich is certainly welcome to run for School Committee on whatever platform he likes.
What concerns me about his video statement is that rather than clearly make his case about his primary and rather controversial policy goal of his candidacy – addressing perceived anti-Semitism in the Newton Schools curriculum, Mr Agranovich is obscuring that agenda and campaigning on motherhood and apple-pie school issues.
Jerry, very well said.
Only one substantial post so far. It is a hostile attack on Lev Agranovich. Jerry implies the candidate is one-dimensional, insincere, and deceptive, just a mere part of a “destructive side show” that is, in turn, an element of a “campaign against the Newton Schools”. Who and why would engage in an alleged conspiracy to hurt Newton schools? To me, the very fact that somebody (the Superintendent and his supporting cast?) spearheaded such a conspiracy theory is very telling. Here is what the people who have a problem with the 10-grade “History course” are saying https://www.camera.org/article/anti-israel-indoctrination-continues-in-newton-public-high-school/
Jerry Reilly’s piece (I view it as a campaign assassination attempt) stops short of barking the order to the Candidate Lef Agranovich: restrain from “campaigning on motherhood and apple-pie school issues”. Jerry insists that Agranovich must mention only one part of his campaign, which would make Jerry’s and likes’ task much easier. Unlike Mr. Reilly, I don’t have any hostile feelings towards either of candidates. Each of them might prove to be a good addition to the existing board that I think was NOT very helpful in solving school problems. But the thing Jerry views as Lev’s negative side I consider positive.
Mr. Agranovich learned on his skin the symptoms of a disease Candidate Emily Prenner most likely has little understanding of, just like Jerry, the MA State Dept of Education, and the vast majority of Americans. The good news is you were born in a free country populated by pretty moral people and ruled by the amazing Constitution. That privilege, however, blunts some of your own sensors and in order to see bigotry, many Americans would look at media and other “experts’” to make a pitch.
Ironically, the offensive “materials” Newton Superintendent is so adamant to shove into the students’ throats come from some overseas theocracies, with pretty checkered human rights records, to say the least. The course contains the basic Soviet Agitprop points demonizing the “racist, brutal, oppressive, Apartheid, etc. Zionists”
That propaganda gets laundered via certain Harvard departments that are known to be lavishly fertilized with massive donations. What Department of Education would challenge materials welcomed by some obscure “scientists” provided those are dressed in Harvard mantles? Contrary to smooth bureaucrats from education, totalitarianism survivors feel pain every time they stumble upon the warfare on Jews and Israel debris. Those people’s sensors scream – but Jerry’s of the world feel nothing and that is what they insist nothing takes place. However, if we were discussing some people of color to refer to their experiences, would Jerry and the Department be equally dismissive?
The Superintendent Mr. Fleishman and his guards would make an argument they are preserving the “controversial” course to merely encourage “critical thinking” at schools. That is a blatant lie. I personally know a family whose son paid dearly for questioning the “course’s” points. The unfriendly review he got from the school made his higher education desires almost impossible to fulfill. I do not have children to be current students within the Newton system. However, I do know parents who are outraged by the anti-Israel attitude the district leadership seems to stick with – but they are petrified by the very idea of voicing their opinions so their children would be hurt in retaliation.
And last but not least. Fleisher and Co. are insisting that the “Course” they are fighting tooth and nail to remain not scrutinized is not harmful/indoctrinating/bigoted at all. Why would they resist opening it to the public and the concerned parents and other citizens are begging for? Why that stonewalling? Prove your opponents wrong and put that controversy in archives –show your cards! The only logical explanation to the secrecy fog is that the Newton top “educators” know what they are doing is deeply wrong. Once Lev Agranovich is only one of 2 Candidates willing to take on the bigoted indoctrination – he has an edge over his otherwise very attractive opponent, IMO. Indoctrination is evil. It is what turns children into senseless tools.
People who know Lev Agranovich would tell you that in addition to being an accellent accountant, efficient spending expert, and successful businessman, Mr Agranovich is a compassionate and responsive person. That combination of characteristics makes him an ideal candidate. Ms Prenner also seems a very fine person. Ideally, both of them should be the board members. Once it’s impossible, I think Lev is going to be the asset Newtown schools to benefit tremendously.
Thanks to everyone who has supported us throughout the election process.
h/t to the Newton Civic Action Forum Facebook page for the linked article (with more information/direct quotes from Agranovich / Rosenblit / Koifman)
https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Fighting-in-Newton-606219?fbclid=IwAR3_GKRRXsBjm9PMm9vnAbsmCFRSWjrv7MYNmLj53Uw3RUxTXwCBfGLqiGw
The link to the Jerusalem Post article is very informative. Agranovich, Koifman, and Rosenblit is not only that hold what I consider extremist opinions on the purported anti-Semitism of our teachers, but it is far worse that they have generally underplayed these views. Ms. Rosenblit, for example, does not mention the issue in her profile on the Newton Patch, nor in her video statement on Village 14. Yet the Jerusalem Post article makes it very clear that this is a defining issue of her campaign. It is profoundly dishonest of her to hide a strongly-held but unpopular view that would bear so heavily on her performance if elected.
My guess (and hope) is that wisdom will prevail, and that Ms. Olszewski, Ms. Prenner, and Ms. Goldman will prevail in landslides.