What I would say… …but is not the place of a public school to say
In the weeks since the targeted attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, numerous members of our community have asked, even demanded, that our public school, paid for by every taxpayer in our nation, state, and district, put out a message in support of Israel and our Jewish students and families. Instead, the message we sent decried the horrors we have seen, declared our support for all of our students, and reminded parents of their critical and primary role.
As the only Jew on the Board of Education, I was asked what I thought our statement should be. It would come as no surprise that I have very strong opinions on this topic. I suspect, however, that it would indeed be a surprise to some that the statement from the superintendent of our public school is exactly what I believe it should be. And my reason is exactly the same as the reason our public school should not take sides, post stickers, or put out ANY statement in support of ANY group or cause because doing so, by definition, excludes others.
I might think differently if I served on the board of a private Jewish school — or any private school for that matter. In that case, I might want our statement to say that there are not two legitimate sides in the case of the worst mass murder of Jews — simply because they are Jews — since The Holocaust. I would be clear there is no moral equivalence to the wanton barbarism of Hamas and the defensive response from Israel. But we are not a private Jewish school; we are a pluralistic public school.
We should support ALL students by assuring their behaviors AT SCHOOL are consistent with our Code of Conduct and our values of Kindness, Dignity, and Respect. Jewish students must be assured they will be as safe at school as their non-Jewish classmates. That doesn’t mean singling them out for special care because they are Jewish any more than it means singling out Muslim students for special suspicion because they are Muslim.
Our statement implored parents to remember their critical role in guiding their children because the choices parents make at home show up in their children’s behaviors at school. It is well beyond the school’s role, either in rejection or support, to judge any parent’s or family’s religious, social, or cultural beliefs, however much some may want to do so. It is, however, well within our role to assure student behaviors at school or in school-sponsored activities adhere to our Code of Conduct and Values.
I have to admit that I gave a moment’s thought to a stronger statement. Since our school has previously taken sides on any number culture war issues, why shouldn’t we do it for Jews engaged in an actual war for their very survival. But I have been nothing but consistent that such choices are beyond the role of a public school and belong squarely to parents and families.
It is just as wrong for school personnel to ask students to wear purple in support of one group of students as it would be for me to ask students to wear blue and white in support of Jewish students.
Perhaps, just perhaps, if we stay in our lane, focus on academics, the arts, and sports, rather than usurping the role of parents and choosing sides in the culture wars we can make our school a respite from them.
As a public school in the city of New Albany, State of Ohio, and the United States of America, the ONLY flags we should fly are the American, Ohio, and New Albany Eagles.