CAIR-CT Urges Farmington BOE to Probe Teacher’s Alleged Anti-Palestinian Classroom Conduct
(HARTFORD, CT, NOV. 1, 2023) – The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) today called on the Farmington Board of Education to investigate alleged inappropriate anti-Palestinian classroom conduct of a Farmington High School history teacher.
According to an audio clip provided to CAIR-CT, a recent lesson by a history teacher included inaccurate narratives and exchanges about the history of Palestinians that could result in violence and discrimination against Arab and Muslim students.
In the audio recording, the teacher is reportedly heard saying: “Seventy percent of Palestinian land is located in the modern country of Jordan. A tiny piece of it is in Israel. So, are we going to protest against Jordan?”
He further allegedly asks his class, “Are they going to get back the land? No, they're not. Are they going to let Palestinian refugees go into Jordan? No, they're not. Do they even let Palestinians who live in Jordan now work? No, they don't. Go to Jordan and look around and you'll see signs in the windows, “No Palestinian work.” They won't hire them. Israel gives them passports to work. Jordan, that has most of their land, no work. No land given back”
Additionally, the teacher reportedly provided a pseudo-historical accounting of the response of the ancient Hebrews against invasion by the Philistines, who he claims are the ancestors of the Palestinians. "What did the Hebrews do then?" he asks the class followed by his response: "They either fight them,” he states, and then a student completes his thought: “Or they go,” says the student.
“I am deeply concerned about the abuse Arab and Muslim students could face as a result of this teacher’s flawed portrayal of Palestinians as land usurpers needing to be pushed back,” said Farhan Memon, Chairman of CAIR-CT. “Inaccurate narratives that engender hostility infringe on students’ rights to an equal, discrimination-free education. Young people should feel safe and included in school—never vulnerable to marginalization based on their identity. I strongly urge the Board of Education to investigate immediately and recommit to classrooms that embrace equity and human rights for every student.”
Since the escalation of the Middle East conflict, CAIR-CT has received numerous calls from parents reporting that their children feel marginalized by the one-sided pro-Israeli narrative from school officials and bullied and/or harassed by school administrators for their support of Palestinians.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR has released a guide for students facing Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bigotry in schools in the aftermath of the Israeli government’s assault on Gaza.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: CAIR-Connecticut Chair Farhan Memon, 203-517-6526 or fmemon@cair.com; Hassan Awwad, Operations Director CAIR-CT, 202-213-6844 or hawwad@cair.com
