Teachers say antisemitism definition will stifle debate on Gaza

The biggest teaching union has hit back at government plans for schools and colleges to adopt the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism, saying it will stifle classroom debate on the war in Gaza. The remarks by the National Education Union (NEU) were a response to an inquiry that concluded that Jewish educators had been excluded by union activism. The Tories accused ministers of allowing unions to “mark their own homework”. Most commented 1 The Horses review — lunch with an influencer, Topjaw’s Jesse Burgess Food & Drink 92 comments 2 Tripsnacking? Finally a travel trend I can get on board with Advice 55 comments 3 My father’s Facebook posts about ‘our special angel’ make me cringe Parenting 32 comments 4 Bill Bailey: A heckler told me to get a haircut — I refused for 40 years Theatre & Dance 34 comments 5 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall: ‘My kids tell me to back off when they cook’ The Sunday Times Magazine 21 comments Ministers accepted all 27 recommendations of the government-commissioned inquiry led by Sir David Bell, the former chief inspector of schools, which exposed widespread anti-Jewish hostility in English education. Daily Briefing newsletter Get our top stories and exclusive analysis sent straight to your inbox every morning. Sign up with one click You’ve successfully signed up to the Daily Briefing newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Daily Briefing newsletter Explore our newsletters Schools and colleges will be required to record antisemitic incidents as a separate category, and statutory safeguarding guidance will be updated to treat antisemitism as an explicit risk. Top stories 1 Tripsnacking? Finally a travel trend I can get on board with Advice 2 Belgium’s most stylish autumn weekend break — and it’s not Bruges Belgium 3 17 of the best cruise lines for solo travellers Cruises 4 This cosy hotel is perfect for an autumnal trip to the Lake District Lake District 5 How to see the northern lights: 15 top tips Adventure Lucy Powell , the education secretary, will write to all headteachers and principals setting out the expectation that they adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. Advertisement According to the IHRA, antisemitism is “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish community institutions and religious facilities”. Top stories 1 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall: ‘My kids tell me to back off when they cook’ The Sunday Times Magazine 2 From gold to tech stocks: how to build the perfect investment portfolio Saving & Investing 3 High street banks are on borrowed time Saving & Investing 4 Belgium’s most stylish autumn weekend break — and it’s not Bruges Belgium Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, welcomed a strengthened focus on antisemitism in the statutory safeguarding guidance, but criticised the government’s push for the IHRA definition, claiming it would undermine anti-racism efforts. “Recommending the IHRA definition for schools risks deepening the problem rather than tackling it, and actively undermining efforts to confront antisemitism,” Kebede said. “The IHRA’s contested framing risks blurring the line between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of the Israeli government … leaving teachers with uncertainty when they need clarity.” Some of the IHRA’s examples of potential antisemitism relate to Israel . These include: “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, eg, by claiming that the existence of a state of Israel is a racist endeavour”; “applying double standards by requiring of [Israel] a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation”; or “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel”. Kebede said use of the definition threatened to tighten “the chilling grip already stifling classroom discussion” of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, adding that addressing antisemitism in isolation risked establishing a “hierarchy of racism”. Advertisement Bell’s report called for teacher training and resources to tackle antisemitism in schools, strengthened guidance on political impartiality, and for students to be given the tools to recognise and confront online anti-Jewish hatred and conspiracy theories. On staff conduct, the report concluded that extending statutory bans on political symbols would be “disproportionate”, advising leaders to consider the “time, place, and manner” of political expression. Powell endorsed this, and said: “I would not expect to see teachers coming to school or college wearing or displaying any political material.” Lucy Powell ANDY RAIN/EPA However, Kebede rejected suggestions that teachers were failing to be neutral. He insisted that impartiality rules were clear and claimed that the Teaching Regulation Agency had upheld “vanishingly few” complaints. Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, welcomed the review but argued that its recommendation for unions to strengthen their efforts to tackle antisemitism amounted to “allowing them to mark their own homework”. She added: “We already know that this doesn’t work.” Laura Trott TOLGA AKMEN/EPA She highlighted the cancellation last year of a school visit from Damien Egan, the Jewish Labour MP for Bristol North East, after protests were planned because of his support for Israel. Trott told MPs that an NEU official who pressured Bristol Brunel Academy to cancel Egan’s visit remains on the union’s national executive, which she described as “shameful”. Advertisement Bristol Brunel Academy was cleared by two reviews of any antisemitism. While Bell’s review concluded that unions were not “inherently antisemitic”, it said that activity and messaging by unions, local branches and individual members about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had left Jewish staff feeling excluded and ignored. Damien Egan, who had a school visit cancelled last year Carl Court/Getty Images Powell, who described the review as a “generational moment”, told MPs that union leaders were “keen to put that right”. “Blaming British Jews for the actions of the Israeli government is antisemitism,” she said. “Assuming British Jews have a particular political standpoint just because they’re Jewish is antisemitism. Targeting British Jews out of concern for Palestine is antisemitism. “When such views and behaviours are expressed in any school or college, whether or not they are aimed directly at a Jewish person, they are antisemitic, and we have a duty to challenge them.” Advertisement All schools in England urged to mark Holocaust Memorial Day The review — informed by teachers, pupils and a survey of more than 5,000 university applicants — concluded that three in five Jewish pupils aged 16 to 19 and half of Jewish teachers had experienced or witnessed antisemitism. External pressure had created a severe “chilling effect”, meaning teachers avoided discussion of controversial global affairs. The Department for Education will establish a dedicated support service and peer-to-peer advisory network to help leaders navigate disputes. Both the Association of School and College Leaders and the school leaders’ union NAHT welcomed the recommendations and backed calls for clearer guidance and training resources. Bell, who will conduct a one-year audit to ensure his recommendations are carried out, said modern antisemitism was having a “pernicious impact in too many places, so it is vital that my recommendations are acted upon and acted upon quickly”. Advertisement “I call upon everyone with an interest in our nation’s future to redouble their efforts to ensure that our education system is safe for everyone, including our fellow Jewish citizens of whatever age,” he said. Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said the review revealed a “devastating reality that should stop us all in our tracks”, and that “anti-Jewish racism has become a normal part of everyday life in our schools”.