Newton Teachers To Deal With Records Requests During Class Time

NEWTON, MA — According to the Boston Globe, in response to a series of public records requests some 13 high school teachers will be using class time to put together documents filed by a lobby organzation accusing the district of anti-Israel bias in the history curriculum.

The Globe’s Laura Crimaldi reports that Americans for Peace and Tolerance, a nonprofit advacacy group founded by Charles Jacobs, has submitted 16 public records requests to the school system so far in 2018.

Superintendent David Fleishman told the Globe in order to respond effectively to the public records request, teachers needed at least an hour, which would happen during class time.

Jacobs blamed Fleishman for not being transparent.

This is part of a years-long campaign that culminated two weeks ago with a public hearing on the curriculum, followed by Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller's full backing of the School Committee. >> Mayor: I Categorically Reject Accusations Against Newton School.

The folks over at the MASSterlist are wondering if the district is deliberately responding with a bit of "overkill," similar to when state officials first turn off the lights on the Zakim Bridge whenever threatened with budget cuts.

Patch has reached out to Superintendent Fleishman and to the Newton teachers union president Mike Zilles.

Read the full Boston Globe article: Some Newton history teachers to miss class time

Check out what the MASSterlist had to say: Thirteen Newton teachers yanked from classes to deal with anti-Israel public-record requests

Watch the full School Committee Curriculum Public Hearing:

READ THESE TO CATCH UP ON THE ISSUE:

• Newton Teachers, School Committee Defend History Curriculum
• Newton Temple Responds To Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack
• Newton History Teachers Harassed Unjustly: Superintendent

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch