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EXCLUSIVE: A spokesperson for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced that the School District of Philadelphia must confront the rising tide of antisemitism in its classrooms.
The alleged discriminatory atmosphere within the nation’s eighth-largest school district, located in the City of Brotherly Love, has recently led to a congressional investigation. Concerns have emerged regarding a pervasive hostility toward Jewish individuals and sentiments related to Israel.
Rosie Lapowsky, Shapiro’s spokesperson, shared with Fox News Digital that ‘Governor Shapiro takes a back seat to no one on these issues. Antisemitism and this type of hateful rhetoric are unacceptable and have no place in Pennsylvania, especially not in our classrooms. This is a matter the Governor has made clear the district needs to take very seriously.’
Fox News Digital conducted interviews with parents and educators from the School District of Philadelphia. The findings, alongside a November notice from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding the investigation into antisemitism in public schools, were presented to the governor’s office.
The House Committee is assessing whether there exists a hostile environment for Jewish K-12 students within the district, as indicated in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital.
The congressional correspondence expressed deep concern over the School District of Philadelphia’s performance in maintaining its legal obligations under Title VI. Since October 7, 2023, the committee has received several allegations pointing to numerous antisemitic incidents. These allegations include teachers purportedly promoting antisemitism in the classroom and the district sanctioning antisemitic demonstrations that marginalize Jewish students.
The committee’s letter further stated, ‘Due to these alleged failures, the School District of Philadelphia entered into a federally mandated corrective action plan with the U.S. Department of Education in December 2024. However, reports from the press and whistleblowers indicate that antisemitic incidents have continued to proliferate since the implementation of this plan.’
Fox News Digital obtained messages from a private Signal messaging group titled Philadelphia Educators for Palestine. This group created a document called ‘Grounding Commitments,’ which reportedly advocates for all forms of Palestinian ‘resistance.’ Critics assert that some of this resistance may encompass acts of violence and terrorism.
The Philadelphia Educators for Palestine maintained, ‘All resistance is righteous. We reject any false equivalence between the violent systems that oppress us and our responses to them.’
Further concerns arose regarding the involvement of educators with students. According to district policy, teachers are prohibited from communicating with students on personal social media platforms. This policy is designed to maintain professionalism and prevent inappropriate relationships. However, message exchanges indicate that members of the anti-Israel group have engaged students in advancing their agenda.
Inquiries by Fox News Digital to the Philadelphia Educators for Palestine for comments went unanswered.
Mika Hackner, director of research at the North American Values Institute, remarked, ‘This scenario exemplifies public school teachers knowingly misusing their positions to foster political activism among their students. Inviting high schoolers into private Signal chats to discuss political violence is indefensible. The School District of Philadelphia must take significant action.’
Jewish parents and educators, speaking anonymously to Fox News Digital out of fear of retaliation from anti-Israel factions within the district, expressed deep concerns. One Jewish parent highlighted the presence of teachers and administrators contributing to an atmosphere of anti-Jewish sentiment. They claimed that Ismael Jimenez, a senior administrator in the district, utilized his social media presence to perpetuate hate against Jews.
The congressional letter cited Jimenez’s record as a key concern, referring to him as an administrator with a long history of denying Jewish connections to Israel and trivializing Jewish experiences amidst ongoing violence.
Additionally, the congressional letter noted the troubling presence of educators promoting antisemitic content. Reports surfaced of at least one teacher allegedly threatening Jewish parents and students online. Other educators reportedly employed lessons from a curriculum called Teaching Palestine, which rationalizes violence and advocates for the dismantlement of Israel.
Another educator identified in the congressional correspondence was Kaziah Ridgeway, accused of threatening Jewish individuals. Other teachers have similarly utilized ‘Teaching Palestine’ materials, according to social media posts reviewed by the committee.
A teacher from the School District of Philadelphia shared that the current atmosphere is characterized by complacency and the encouragement of a prevailing pro-Palestinian bias. They noted a lack of remedies against antisemitism within the educational framework.
Shelly Robinson, a retired teacher from Northeast High School, recounted disturbing incidents at the state’s largest high school. She described how at one multicultural fair, a map was displayed that omitted Israel entirely. Following the events of October 7, she reported that a student group began to distribute buttons emblazoned with the phrase ‘From the River to the Sea,’ a slogan viewed by many as inflammatory and antisemitic.
The Anti-Defamation League has characterized this phrase as an antisemitic slogan often associated with anti-Israel protests and demonstrations.
The tragic events of October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, have increased scrutiny on these issues. This attack resulted in over 1,200 deaths, including more than 40 American citizens.
Robinson also recounted a professional development session where a trainer remarked that students should cease promoting historically significant figures like Shakespeare and Einstein, arguing instead for the acknowledgment of refugees. When Robinson pointed out that Einstein was a refugee who fled the horrors of Nazi Germany, the facilitator dismissed her by implying that factual truths did not matter.
Both Jimenez and Ridgeway, linked to the Philadelphia Educators for Palestine, did not respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
While Governor Shapiro has vocally addressed these alarming developments, other state leaders have sidestepped responsibility. Leah Uko, a spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, insisted that this matter resides solely with the School District of Philadelphia, stating no comment could be provided.
A spokesperson for Dr. Tony Watlington, the superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, indicated that the district’s policy prohibits comments on ongoing investigations.
As various stakeholders navigate a complex landscape, the urgent need for productive dialogue and action within the educational community has never been clearer. Addressing antisemitism in schools represents a crucial challenge that must be tackled collectively by educators, administrators, and policymakers to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
