ADL/JCRC Joint Statement on Newton Public Schools

June 6, 2014 While it’s true that the APT ads are inaccurate, reports from CAMERA,
the educational research group Verity Educate, Stand with Us, and
Parents for Excellence in Newton Schools clearly show that anti-Israel
material IS used in Newton Public Schools. They are available online at:

www.VerityEducate.org/Newton (free 152-page report)

www.NewtonExcellence.org (links to reports and class material)
https://tinyurl.com/camera-articles (CAMERA articles)
https://tinyurl.com/standwithus-analysis (StandWithUs analysis
of Timeline used in high school history classes)
https://tinyurl.com/PENS-analyses (PENS reports and analyses)
https://tinyurl.com/examples-of-material (Examples of
objectionable material)
https://tinyurl.com/material-analyzed-in-VE-report (Material
analyzed in Verity Educate report)

ADL / JCRC Joint Statement

June 6, 2014
About 3 years ago, in the fall of 2011, a parent brought to light the fact that at least certain sections of the Arab
World Studies Notebook (“AWSN”), a troubling publication, were being used in a class at a public high school
in Newton. Many of us raised concerns about the use of AWSN at that time. Newton school Superintendent
David Fleishman and other Newton officials investigated the matter, and stated that the text was no longer in
use. We considered the matter resolved.
Over the last 2 years, there has been a campaign of criticism—dominated by unfortunate innuendo and
accusations that proved unsubstantiated by actual evidence—directed at the Newton School Committee over its
supposed anti-Israelism, or embrace of anti-Semitism. The most prominent campaign has been waged by an
organization named Americans for Peace and Tolerance (“APT”), in the form of a series of advertisements in
local papers and in op-eds questioning not only the content of the Newton curriculum, but the integrity of
several prominent leaders in the Jewish community.
Most recently, APT announced that through a public records request, it had obtained a syllabus from the fall of
2012 indicating an assignment of AWSN. APT asserted that this “revealed” that the Newton School
Committee had made misrepresentations.
Accordingly, ADL and JCRC together approached Newton school officials. We wanted to know if in fact the
syllabus was correct, whether AWSN was still in use, and how such an event might occur given the prior
assurances. As the attached letter from School Committee Chair Matt Hills indicates, APT’s assertion, like
others before it, turned out to be inaccurate. Mr. Hills reports that, in fact, AWSN was not actually used in
connection with the syllabus in question in 2012 or at any time since the Committee represented it was no
longer being used.
This is incorrect - the syllabus clearly states it WAS used.

When presented with specific and credible concerns we have found the Newton Public School District to be
responsive. They have addressed our questions in a timely manner.
Reasonable people may sometimes be concerned about what is being taught in our schools and can disagree
about the appropriate context in which some materials have been used in Newton regarding Israel and
Judaism.  There are legitimate concerns – in jurisdictions across our nation – over the use of materials that
present “narratives” that in fact promote a distorted view of Israel. In some districts we have seen how “critical
thinking” can be taken to intolerable extremes, such as questioning the historical fact of the Holocaust in
Europe.
After two years of sustained media attention, and continued invitations to parents and students to come forward
with any concerns, the “evidence” that has been provided and the facts as presented in Newton have still not
substantiated the level of hyperbole and innuendo that has tarnished our community.
The leveling of accusations ought to take place considerably more scrupulously than has occurred in
connection with this matter. Careful, responsible, and civil discourse is far preferable to exaggerated or
misleading accusations that are unsupported by the facts.

Read the letter from School Committee Chair Matt Hills.