CAMERA reporting on antisemitism in Philadelphia schools cited in public hearing
According to CAMERA's investigation, the School District of Philadelphia shifted social studies to teach thematic elements of capitalism and racism, portraying Jews as 'oppressors.'
Pennsylvania lawmakers referenced CAMERA's detailed research during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, as they sought to address rising antisemitism within the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). CAMERA's 81-page investigation, titled "Shaping Minds, Spreading Hate: How Antisemitism Took Root in the School District of Philadelphia," was authored by Rebecca Schgallis, Director of CAMERA's K-12 Program.
The report scrutinized the SDP's social studies curriculum and policies, revealing that the district had shifted away from a conventional chronological approach to historical study. Instead, the curriculum increasingly focused on themes such as capitalism, racism, and settler colonialism. CAMERA's investigation uncovered significant gaps in world history education, with limited or no coverage of crucial historical events like the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, both World Wars, and the Cold War.
Moreover, CAMERA concluded that Pennsylvania's general social studies standards, coupled with the absence of state assessments, created an environment conducive to an ideologically driven curriculum that prioritized activism over historical literacy. In response to the report, Schgallis emphasized the importance of lawmakers examining broader school policies and curricular initiatives, rather than merely addressing individual incidents of antisemitism.
According to Schgallis, Philadelphia parents sought CAMERA's assistance to understand how external curricular organizations were influencing the SDP's instructional materials. The investigation revealed problems across the social studies curriculum, as the district employed an oppressor/oppressed binary lens that portrayed Jews, Israel, and even the United States as oppressors.
This approach effectively taught students to view these groups through a predetermined ideological framework, rather than fostering critical examination of history and current events.
The investigation was prompted by Philadelphia parents' concerns following a series of antisemitic incidents after October 7, 2023. CAMERA utilized public curriculum materials, public records requests, and social media activity from educators to elucidate how the district's ideological agenda had developed. CAMERA also provided expertise to the US House Committee on Education and the Workforce's investigations into the school district.
Schgallis expressed hope that the Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing would serve as a wake-up call for Pennsylvania elected officials and parents to critically evaluate how curriculum is developed and whether it contributes to or confronts antisemitism. The full report from CAMERA can be accessed here.
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