HoCoJAG BoE Candidate Questionnaire Response

The following is my response to a questionnaire provided by a group called Howard County Jewish Advocacy Group.

• Should HCPSS adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism? Yes or No:

  IHRA Working Definition

  HCPSS should not adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, as argued by Jewish Voice for Peace, which highlights concerns about potential censorship of legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and the conflation of Jewish identity with support for Israel. This could limit free speech and misrepresent diverse Jewish perspectives, failing to effectively tackle antisemitism while suppressing pro-Palestinian views.

• Should HCPSS anti-discrimination polices protect Jewish students and staff in the same manner as other protected classes? Yes or No:

  HCPSS Anti-Discrimination Policies
  
  According to Policy 1010, the definition of protected class is:

  Protected Class – A group’s characteristics to include the following: race, color, creed, national origin, immigration status, religion, physical, mental, or learning disability, pregnancy, age, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or socioeconomic status.

  We must ensure that all children are protected against discrimination.

• Should HCPSS educational equity policies help combat implicit and explicit antisemitic bias? Yes or No: What specifically would you add to the curriculum:

  Educational Equity Policies
  
  Yes, HCPSS educational equity policies should help combat both implicit and explicit antisemitic bias. To enhance the curriculum, it's crucial to incorporate comprehensive historical education on various injustices, including the plight and dehumanization of Palestinians, the Nakba, the occupation, the Apartheid polices of Israel, and the Gaza genocide. Additionally, the curriculum should cover the history of Native American genocide and the centuries-long dehumanization and enduring hardships faced by African Americans. This approach ensures that students receive a well-rounded education on historical and contemporary issues of bias and inequality.

• How would you address failure of the HCPSS Office of DEI to create an inclusive environment for Jewish students where they can be valued, respected, and appreciated?

  Office of DEI

  An inclusive HCPSS must celebrate each student's identity, ensuring Jewish students and all others feel respected and valued. Current policies need reevaluation to address the shortfall in embracing diversity genuinely and wholeheartedly. We must provide a supportive environment that educates on all aspects of history and current affairs, including those that are complex and challenging, without fear or favor. Upholding true inclusivity demands active engagement and the dismantling of selective practices that harm any student group, advocating for an equitable education where every voice is heard and every story is told.

• Should HCPSS policies regarding Student Expression supersede policies guaranteeing students a Safe, Supportive, and Non-Discriminatory environment? Yes or No:

  Students Rights and Responsibilities Polices
  
  No, Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) policies regarding Student Expression should not supersede policies guaranteeing a Safe, Supportive, and Non-Discriminatory environment.

  Policies should be designed to complement and balance each other, ensuring that while students have the right to express themselves, this expression does not compromise the safety, supportiveness, and non-discriminatory nature of the educational environment. It’s essential to create a framework where student expression is encouraged and facilitated but within the boundaries that protect all students from discrimination, harassment, or harm.

  For instance, the situation where students organized walkouts to protest issues such as the Gaza genocide demonstrates the need for clear guidelines that respect student expression while ensuring it does not lead to an unsafe or discriminatory environment. In such cases, prohibiting signs that say "cease fire" or "end the siege" can be seen as stifling student expression, especially when such expression is part of a peaceful protest or awareness campaign.

  Therefore, HCPSS should strive to develop policies that simultaneously uphold the principles of free expression and maintain a safe, supportive, and non-discriminatory environment. This means revising or drafting policies in a way that they do not conflict but rather support one another in promoting an educational atmosphere where all students can learn, express themselves, and feel safe and respected.

• HCPSS faculty and students have held walkouts, rallies, and petitions against Israel and have pressured students to sign, attend, and/or participate. This has led to discrimination, bullying, harassment, and intimidation of Jewish students. What will you do to protect Jewish students?:

  Please see response to the previous question.