<p><a href=“Cuomo Orders Investigations Into Claims of Anti-Semitic Acts in a School District - The New York Times”>Cuomo Orders Investigations Into Claims of Anti-Semitic Acts in a School District - The New York Times;
<p>The Governor of New York has ordered the New York State Police and the State Division of Human Rights to investigate.</p>
<p>Everyone in the area has to know about Kiryas Joel. Would it really be a concern? The article was about Jews in the public schools, which would not be the case with Hassids. </p>
<p>If I were the editor, I would have asked what that single quote was doing or what it meant. Did the guy even realize they weren’t talking about Hassids? Did he assume the question was about them? He references that they don’t drive, which refers to Hassids not Jews in general. So I’m not sure what that little part was doing in the story.</p>
<p>It is very, very difficult to control bullying in school. Schools I’m aware of do try their best. Teachers I know try their best (zero tolerance). However, students are independent beings and many find it “fun” or even get their highs off of it being “anti-pc” I suspect. We’ve had one KKK meeting near here recently and I had the “wonderful” opportunity of overhearing some (fairly academically intelligent) students talking about their plans of going in support. I don’t even think they know the whole “issue” involved - it just seems “cool” to them. The more mature students, of course, go to the protest against them, but for those who want to be “outside the norm,” there seems to be some attraction.</p>
<p>Then there are those who do learn it at home. Once you meet mom or dad (or guardian) you see that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. They are generally not our academic superstars.</p>
<p>I’ll admit to being unsure of what to say to those students. Do I confront them and perhaps encourage their rebellion or let it slide? I let it slide the KKK day - namely because we were changing classes right as I heard it and due to the shock involved. However, soon afterward I happened to have a rabbit trail in class discussing the value of everyone (low academic ability to high, various talents/abilities/experiences, etc) and mentioned the only thing that mattered to me was how much respect people showed to each other. Did it help? Who knows?</p>
<p>We’ve had anti-bullying special presentations as well as just plain ole crackdowns and threats from admin (they do follow through - always), but we just can’t stop the beast.</p>
<p>It’s sad.</p>
<p>I’m not involved with that sd, so what I experience may not be true there, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were semi-similar.</p>
<p>I’m glad to hear from a teacher on this subject. </p>
<p>I think bullying is a police matter. I think schools can’t and shouldn’t be asked to deal with this. Administrators and parents should just involve law enforcement.</p>
<p>I’m a teacher and I believe schools have to deal with this, as hard as it always is. When I see bullying behavior in my classroom or in the halls, I am mandated by school policy to stop it immediately. If I just turned my back on it, even if it was to call administration to involve the law, I would be silently sanctioning the behavior for that minute or however long it took for a response. Students need to know right then that what they’re saying or doing or implying, if it’s bullying or harassment, is wrong and needs to stop that minute. Law enforcement can be called later on if necessary. But if schools and teachers and bystanders don’t respond right away it gives a message of not wanting to be involved and of being helpless. That’s the last thing we want to communicate to these nasty acts.</p>
<p>There’s no doubt you are right, franglish.</p>
<p>I guess I’m just saying schools should not be expected to be able to “stop” this. I think only the involvement of law enforcement will change this, for most kids.</p>
<p>We stop it, involve admin, and then sometimes they get law enforcement involved (pending the actual situation).</p>
<p>But we can’t be everywhere and the kids know it. They invent new words, then protest when they are written up for saying “innocent” things (parents will support the kids). It’s not an easy situation when a kid decides it’s “cool.” Fortunately, most don’t start. Others back down when they realize we’re serious. But then there are those others… they’re > 90% of the problem and they seem to like it that way. In the “old” days kids could be expelled. I haven’t seen that happen in a long time. Now they just meet with probation officers often on school time - and brag about it to their friends.</p>
<p>As Lergnom said, Kiras Joel is a very combative issue in New York State. Similar controversies occur in other communities were significant numbers of Hassids live, like in Brooklyn-NYC.</p>
<p>Some who complain about Hassid influence in secular and municipal affairs compare the group to Islamic zealots. I don’t mean violent terrorists, so don’t flood me with complaints. Someone mentioned the forced segregation of women on commuter buses. And then there are the school issues. In one famous case years ago in NYC Hassid leaders were able to get public school officials to erect a wall at a public elementary school to separate Hassid children from their secular peers. Well, this particular school was majority Latino I believe, and the Latino parents had to bring suit to get that inane practice stopped. Lately, the Brooklyn District Attorney lost his re-election bid thanks in no small part to his perceived kow-towing to Hassidic leaders who insisted on leniency for accused child molesters whom happen to be Hassids. The victims were always young Hassidic girls.</p>
<p>Obviously all such controversy does not excuse bigotry against the Hassidic community, and it shouldn’t. But it does shed light on tensions between diverse neighbors in communities like Kiras Joel and Pine Bush.</p>
<p>The issue was about Jewish children attending a public school, which has nothing to do with the ultra-orthodox communities in southeastern Orange County and their use of public funds and hostility to secular outsiders of all religions. From the detailed coverage of the disgusting Pine Bush behavior in the Times it sounds like old fashioned scary anti-semitism, and the references in the paper to Ku Klux Klan activity in the area in the past support that interpretation. One of the locals quoted referred to Sullivan County, which I think is one of the Catskill counties where heavily Jewish resorts (largely very secular, like the ones in movies) once thrived and now stand desolate. </p>
<p>While there may some Hasidic communities up there as well as in the Orange/Rockland area, it takes tremendous ignorance and bigotry to equate the mainstream Jewish community in the area with religious extremists of any denomination. If the Pine Bush allegations are true, and it sounds as though they are, it is a very sad and ugly set of circumstances, but not really all that surprising in a relatively isolated and not very affluent area, which that part of the state is–it always surprises me how poor as well as beautiful much of New York State is. (That is why the recently approved casino referendum had such unfortunate success. Casinos represent a hope, probably false, of renewed tourism and prosperity.) in any case, hate and ignorance thrive in poverty and isolation, and it sounds as though those factors abounded in Pine Bush.</p>
<p>It is inconceivable to me that this has been allowed to continue for so long. But even more astonishing to me was the quote by Phillip Steinberg who was the superintendent of schools. He agreed to talk to some of the girls who were being victimized but stated to the parents that it was “unrealistic” to assume they could change inbred prejudices. So where does that leave everyone? One would think he would be leading the charge.</p>
<p>It seems to me that our culture is evolving into one of hate and violence. These types of things need to be addressed swiftly and eradicated. Otherwise they will take root and spread.</p>
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<p>I’m sorry, but when was it ever not? The only difference is who we choose to direct it at: Indigenous people, blacks, LGBT, Jewish people, Mexicans, Muslims and Arabs, the list goes on. Did we ever live in a diverse society that didn’t have hatred towards and use violence against a subset of people?</p>
<p>“It seems to me that our culture is evolving into one of hate and violence. These types of things need to be addressed swiftly and eradicated. Otherwise they will take root and spread.”</p>
<p>In the long view, I see just the opposite. (Granted: I live in Cascadia.)</p>
<p>And perhaps the most horrible and really disgusting kind of bullying is what is really going on these days and that’s, as everyone knows, cyber-bullying. Again, as a teacher, if I hear about it, I am mandated to get involved. It might be one thing when school computers are used, or if this behavior happens on school grounds. But the obvious question that arises is-- if this happens outside of school, how is it school’s business? Well, isn’t is our business? Isn’t it the business of all the adults in these kids’ communities? Parents often toss up their hands and claim there is nothing they can do, so it has to be up to the schools, they say. Very frustrating. Even if it’s futile and so, so difficult, we have to remain vigilant if we can.</p>
<p>Yes agreed Roman, our history is replete with the persecution of various subsets of people. But I also discern that this hatred and violence seems be more prevalent in the lives and minds of children. Maybe I was just sheltered from it growing up, but I perceive our young generation as angry and full of hate towards each other. Physical bullying and cyber-bullying are out of control, and gun violence is clearly a huge issue in our schools. Seems no end to the headlines, and it’s hard to accept that we are powerless to stop it.</p>
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<p>Are you suggesting we euthanize the young darlings? Otherwise, I’m sure plenty of folks who are trying their best to change things would like to know what piece of “action” we are missing. Wanting to do something/change something and being actually able to do it can be two different things when youngsters aren’t on the same page. It’s kind of like how we’ve managed to eliminate swearing, drinking, and drugs from the schools… and all kids are learning to their potential because they happily want to be there getting a decent education.</p>
<p>IMO the response from the school’s superintendent implied a kind of “there is nothing we can do”. I think the inadequacy of the response from the school board is evident by the fact that some jewish families felt the only remedy available to them was to home school their children.</p>
<p>While the article does not go in to specifics about remedial action, I would think that drawing swastikas on school property would be grounds for expulsion or at least a prolonged suspension. Many public schools have security cameras and if this school district doesn’t, then perhaps they should look into it. </p>
<p>As far as your comment about “euthanizing the young darlings”, I am going to assume that was a poor attempt at humor.</p>
<p>I have no idea what that sd is actually doing. I do know here it is extremely difficult to expel a youngster. Out of school suspension is considered a vacation by that crowd and is willingly looked forward to. In school suspension is something they endure with a badge of honor and bragging rights. Legal issues are the same - many will willingly show you their ankle bracelet if they have one and comparison of probation officers is routine - as is discussions of which judge they think they’ll face.</p>
<p>This is not ALL or even remotely a majority of students in our school. It’s a small minority, but a group that seems to get their dopamine rushes off what they can do - bullying over pretty much anything they want to choose is just a part of it. If you truly have a solution, many people would be all ears because I doubt our district is alone having these issues with a few kids. </p>
<p>In general, all teachers I know actively try to stop bullying in their classrooms and the hallways. In general, students know we can’t be everywhere - and some do not care what any repercussions are if they get “in the mood.”</p>
<p>It’s impossible to have security cameras everywhere and doubtful that taxpayers would want to foot the bill to have several in each classroom so every desk could be watched. You’d probably also have privacy issues pop up.</p>
<p>Schools aren’t giving up (not ours anyway). It’s an active battle just as with drugs.</p>
<p>Living in NY and working with schools throughout the state I am very familiar with the area and school district. This are is what one would describe as an insular community with rural poverty. This is not an area that would attract a large transient population and I really don’t think the population is looking at this as a Monsey or Kiryas Joel situation. I think that this is a combination of antisemitism that begins at home, a school district that has not been clear and emphatic enough in regards to anti-bullying and tolerance. That message needs to begin way before middle school. It needs to begin in kindergarten and parents need to be brought into creating a culture of acceptance and tolerance. School districts can and actually do alot with parent education through PTA and parent conferences. That said the schools need to deal with offenders consistently across the board. From reading the article in the papers today and yesterday that clearly seems not to be the case. In these areas most of the “troublemakers” and families of the same are well known and there can be the case in some of these districts of kind of waiting them out until they graduate or drop out and are out of the school system entirely. The administrator who said that they would talk to the specific girls involved in one incident should have been calling their families and requiring them to come to school for a meeting as well.</p>
<p>I think there is a need for education on all sides. The racist sentiments I’ve heard regularly voiced by my own orthodox relatives are absolutely shocking in the extreme - I have difficulty even being around them (remember: I have a non-white d.) I think the school should deal harshly with what is going on there. There is no excuse for it. But a little education and tolerance on all sides would be welcome. </p>
<p>I really do think things (in the longer run) are getting better.</p>
<p>My daughter’s freshman year roommate was from Pine Bush. When she got to college, she never went back again to stay because she hated it so much. She came here often because she believed that Pine Bush was the bastion of her trailer trash family with all of its ignorance and dysfunction. Whether that is the quantifiable truth or not, that is her deeply held belief.</p>