(SHNS- 2/11/2025) The state’s largest teacher’s union came under fire Monday from a legislative commission on antisemitism, which accused it of providing “antisemitic” and one-sided educational materials on the Israel-Hamas war to its member teachers.
Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page defended the resource — which he stressed is not curricula, but optional educational materials — as not an endorsement of the messages behind political images and articles included in the document, but as a tool to teach diverse perspectives on Israel and Palestine.
Rep. Simon Cataldo, House co-chair of the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, called the document “virulently antisemitic.”
Among the pieces of it he took issue with: “Dollar bills folded up into a star of David. Bestiality imagery tapping into Nazi-era stereotypes. Telling Kindergarteners that Zionists are ‘bullies.’ Glorification of a U.S. designated terrorist organization. Inciting violence against Jews,” he said in a statement.
“It’s pretty simple: we need to keep classically antisemitic so-called teaching material out of our kids’ schools. It’s incredible that the special commission even had to have a hearing about that,” Cataldo added.
Sen. John Velis, Senate co-chair of the commission, took a different approach from Cataldo. He didn’t object to specific documents within the resource guide, but rather, that it was “incredibly one-sided.”
“We are talking about arguably the most complex, nuanced geopolitical situation in the world. So I’m being very clear here — no one is saying don’t talk about the plight of Palestinians. You’re not hearing that at all. But what I’m saying is, with absolute certainty beyond a shadow of doubt, is I’m seeing nothing here that presents the Jewish perspective or Israeli perspective,” Velis said.
Velis addressed Antoline, saying he respects her subject matter expertise, but that not every teacher who teaches this subject is so knowledgeable about the region’s political, religious and historical complexity.
“This is, I think the quote was, the largest teachers’ union in New England,” Velis said. “I know there are any number of resources on October 7. That’s why I know this material is so one-sided. And ma’am, respectfully speaking, what I would say to you is that for a teacher who has no background in this subject matter to look at this, they could be forgiven for not thinking to themselves, ‘This is the entirety of the story.'”
Antoline responded, “I’m not entirely sure they would be forgiven. That’s not the way we approach things.”
Page said that the resource document is not set in stone, and that he’s heard feedback from members and the union’s board intends to make changes to it.
Before he left the hearing after about two hours of questioning, Velis asked Page to consider consulting members of the commission as the union updates the document.