10th-grade NY review handout defines Zionism as 'extreme land-grabbing nationalism'
The board told the 'Post' that the sheet was not created by an "individual or group within the district" and was not created by or approved by the Social Studies Department or the District itself.
A Grade 10 New York review sheet defined Zionism as “extreme nationalism” focused on “taking land from Palestinians,” it was revealed on Tuesday.
StopAntisemitism drew attention to the issue, and The Jerusalem Post tracked down the original post on Facebook where a NY Jewish mother reported that her daughter had received the handout.
“This is the review sheet for 10th grade Half Hollows Hill/Hills East,” wrote the woman. “Not only is it factually incorrect, it is propaganda and does not belong in a review for the New York State Regents.”
Under Unit 10.7 – Decolonization and Nationalism, subsection Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – Zionism is defined as “an example of extreme nationalism” and the “belief that Jews need a homeland in Palestine.”
It goes on to say that “every war ended with Israel gaining more land.” As many commenters noted, this is factually incorrect, given that Israel has given up land at several points in history, including with its complete withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula after the Six Day War.
The mother added that her daughter approached her teacher, who said that he did not create the packet, but that several classes received it.
Review was 'not created or approved by the district'
The Post contacted the Half Hollows Hill Central School District, which said it could not provide a copy of the review as “it was not created or approved by the district,” but noted that the issue had been discussed in last night’s board meeting.The board provided the Post with a statement from its Interim Superintendent, Brian Conboy, who said, “at some point last week, a review sheet was distributed in several Social Studies classes that contained language and ideas that were factually incorrect and/or offensive.”
Conboy added that the sheet was not created by an “individual or group within the district” and was not created by or approved by the Social Studies Department or the District itself. Facebook users claimed the sheet was made by a teacher.
However, according to Conboy, “this review sheet was created outside of the district, prior to the horrific events of October 7, 2023, and at a time when all districts were transitioning to a new Regents exam.”
He added that the HHH Social Studies Department will be meeting to conduct curriculum writing over the next two months to address these exact topics and assured that, moving forward, “all curriculum relating to these issues, both historical and modern, will be districtwide and vetted by an outside group of experts in the field.”
As such, all materials given to students will be the same, beginning in September.
“On behalf of the district, I want you all to know that offensive and inaccurate materials such as this do not meet our standards of excellence and are not something we take lightly,” he said. “We can and will do better moving forward.”
