LA Times Op-Ed: Proposed CA Ethnic Studies Curriculum Has ‘Anti-Jewish Bias’

A Jewish woman wrote in an Aug. 9 Los Angeles Times op-ed that the drafted Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) consists of “anti-Jewish bias,” which caused her to question the “competence” and “intent” of the committee that wrote it.

Chapman University Adjunct Journalism Professor Karin Klein noted that the curriculum lists “kinds of hatred that have oppressed minority groups in California” except for anti-Semitism.

“It could be seen as an oversight if there weren’t other, distinct signs of anti-Jewish bias in this curriculum meant to address issues of ethnic history, misunderstanding and prejudice,” Klein wrote.

She pointed to the California Legislative Jewish Caucus’ July 29 letter saying that the curriculum calls the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement “a global social movement that currently aims to establish freedom for Palestinians living under apartheid conditions.” Klein argued that the curriculum doesn’t explain that many consider the BDS movement to be “controversial” and treats the BDS narrative as the “one truth” for students to learn about.

“It’s also remarkable that Israel is singled out in this way,” Klein wrote. “What about nations that deprive women of basic rights and religious groups of the right to practice their beliefs? If this is a course about international rights controversies, it is woefully noninclusive.”

The curriculum also urges teachers share musician Shadia Mansour’s lyrics stating that “‘Israelis ‘use the press so they can manufacture,’ a classic anti-Semitic trope about Jewish control of the media. In other words, saying this is about Israel, not about Jews, doesn’t pass scrutiny when language long used to foment anti-Semitism is recommended.”

Klein concluded the op-ed arguing that “a few edits” to the curriculum would not suffice.

“As a mother of kids who went through the public school system (and who would have refused to place them in a course that made them feel attacked for their minority identity), as a journalist who considers it crucial to listen to and consider all sides of a debate and allow people to voice their views without fear of retribution, and as a Jewish resident of California, this makes me question the competence, objectivity and intent of the committee that drew up the curriculum,” Klein wrote.

The Los Angeles Times similarly noted in an Aug. 2 editorial that the curriculum isn’t balanced.