Ashraf Amra, Creative Commons.

Pro-Israel California legislators are taking a page out of Trump’s playbook to prevent K-12 educators from presenting a realistic history and accurate portrayal of contemporary Israel/Palestine. Their proposed legislation, AB 715, a would-be model for other states, threatens to censor educational materials and instruction, punish educators who deviate from the Israel lobby’s version of events, and invite Israel flag wavers to file complaints that burden school superintendents with needless investigations of teachers.

It’s all about “Discrimination”

Despite the author’s claims that AB 715 will strengthen protections against discrimination, including antisemitism, in K12 education, protections are already embedded in the California Education Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of nationality, religion, ethnicity, race, gender and more.

What then is the point?

The answer lies in the language of the bill that both saddles administrators with policing lessons on Israel/Palestine, and redefines nationality to include “actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics or residency in a country with a dominant religious or distinct religious identity.” A Jewish student who perceives their identity as wrapped up in the nation state of Israel may take offense at discussion of history and current events that debates the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish ethno-nationalist state.

In addition, AB 715 will require educators to “ensure a safe and supportive school climate,” though the meaning of the words “safe” and “supportive” depends on one’s point of view. While anti-Zionist Jews critical of Israel may interpret safety as disassociation from Israel’s destruction of 90% of Gaza’s schools, pro-Israel students might complain they feel unsafe” hearing criticism of Israel’s post October 7th decimation of Gaza.

Dropping the hammer on school administrators

Current law prohibits the California Department of Education (CDE) from adopting textbooks and supplemental materials deemed unlawfully discriminatory. AB 715 goes one giant step further to prohibit school districts, school board members and teacher trainers from allowing any educational materials that would subject a pupil to unlawful discrimination.

“If AB 715 becomes law, fearful school administrators will micromanage the classroom,” said Seth Morrison, board member of Jewish Voice for Peace-Action. “Principals will crack down on teachers who discuss decolonization movements from Hawaii to Puerto Rico to Palestine.” Morrison added, “AB 715 echoes the agenda of MAGA extremists who share the goal of suppressing discussion on race history and global........

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