All schools should teach children about antisemitism to tackle hate incidents across society, a Jewish education leader has suggested.
Rabbi David Meyer, chief executive of Partnerships for Jewish Schools, said educating pupils is the “solution” to combating antisemitism.
His comments came after two Jewish schools in north London were vandalised with red paint in the last week following Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Education ministers have urged schools and colleges to tackle antisemitic behaviour “head on” and make sure that any expression of political views “does not create an atmosphere of intimidation or fear”.
On Friday, some Jewish parents decided to keep their children out of school due to safety fears, while a small number of Jewish schools closed their doors.
The real solution to this is educating our communities and educating our children in order to ensure that moving forward we are resolving this problem long term— Rabbi David Meyer, chief executive of Partnerships for Jewish Schools
Rabbi Meyer, whose organisation works closely with 90 Jewish schools in the UK, said schools were open this week and attendance levels were normal.
But he said schools have increased the number of security guards on site and they have been working to protect students travelling to and from school.
Some Jewish pupils have been advised to cover their school logos on uniforms in public, or remove religious items of clothing, if they felt threatened.
Rabbi Meyer told the PA news agency: “I am deeply troubled that in 2023 we are talking about higher fences and people hiding their Jewish identity when they are walking through the streets.
“I don’t really think that is the kind of society that we have worked so hard to try and develop.
“It plays into a much wider question as to what is happening educationally in schools around the country around teaching about antisemitism and ensuring that extremists and terrorists are not given support.”
Spencer Lewis, executive headteacher of Yavneh College, a Jewish secondary school in Hertfordshire, said a fifth of its students did not come in on Friday.
He told PA: “There are certainly concerns about security among some parents and some have asked their children to wear a coat or sweatshirt on the way to and from school to ensure that the school logo is not visible.
“Clearly, it is very upsetting for people to feel that they need to cover up anything that identifies them as Jews on the streets of Hertfordshire.”
Mr Lewis added that the school – which already has four security guards, high fences and CCTV cameras – is introducing a “parent security rota” to increase adult presence around the school.
It is of the utmost importance that schools and colleges tackle this head on and ensure that where behaviour extends into antisemitism or other discriminatory bullying, it is responded to with all due seriousness— Letter from education ministers to schools and colleges
The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, said it had recorded 320 antisemitic incidents in the UK between October 7 and 16.
Seventeen of these incidents targeted Jewish schools, pupils and teachers at non-Jewish schools, or pupils on their way to or from school, it said.
Rabbi Meyer has called on politicians to introduce a “proper curriculum” to teach about antisemitism in all schools across the country.
The Jewish education leader highlighted the “positive story” of British schools teaching about the tolerance of all religions and minorities.
But he said: “What appears to have happened, sadly, is that the understanding of antisemitism – which is quite a specific aspect of racism – seems to have been missed out in this whole story.”
Rabbi Meyer told PA: “I do think it’s important that anybody who manifests antisemitic or extremist tendencies needs to be shut down.
“But at the same time, the real solution to this is educating our communities and educating our children in order to ensure that moving forward we are resolving this problem long term.”
Schools and colleges should ensure that any political expression is conducted sensitively, meaning that it is not disruptive and does not create an atmosphere of intimidation or fear— Letter from education ministers to schools and colleges
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, schools minister Nick Gibb and skills minister Robert Halfon have asked school and college leaders to “respond swiftly” to discriminatory incidents – including antisemitism.
A letter to schools and colleges from the ministers said teachers will be put in “difficult positions” at school as children ask questions and share their opinions on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
It said: “Schools and colleges should ensure that any political expression is conducted sensitively, meaning that it is not disruptive and does not create an atmosphere of intimidation or fear for their peers and staff.”
The letter added: “In the past, we have seen how events in the Middle East are used as an excuse to stir up hatred amongst communities, including in schools and colleges.
“It is of the utmost importance that schools and colleges tackle this head on and ensure that where behaviour extends into antisemitism or other discriminatory bullying, it is responded to with all due seriousness.”
Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “Teachers and leaders will be doing everything they can to support pupils at what will be a difficult time for many, and take seriously their responsibility to foster a positive school environment.
“Schools are already required to provide information about different faith perspectives, and how stereotypes based on religion and other characteristics can cause damage and facilitate prejudice.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Schools are required to make sure pupils understand the consequences of antisemitism and intolerance in Citizenship, RSHE and History. This includes through learning about the Holocaust, which is a compulsory part of the national curriculum at Key Stage 3.
“We have sent letters to schools outlining advice on managing sensitive discussions around antisemitism and pointing them towards our Educate Against Hate website which provides support for pupils to challenge racist and discriminatory beliefs.”
