Clarkstown School Officials Apologize for 'Anti-Semitic' History Video

In the wake of a controversial history video shown at Clarkstown South High School, district officials are developing curriculum addressing inter-group relations and appreciation for differences.

The video came from Study.com, an online company based in California that offers “short and fun videos, taught by the world’s best teachers, we help students easily master any subject and achieve their educational goals.”

Its topic was the experiences of the the Jewish and Christian communities of the Roman Empire.

Several students were disturbed by the way the video depicted Judaism, and talked to their parents about it, and they reached out to their rabbis and the Jewish Federation of Rockland.

Officials from the Federation and the Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and & Education said they met Feb. 1 with Clarkstown Superintendent Thomas Morton, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Jeffrey Sobel, Principal of Clarkstown High School South Debra Tarantino, Social Studies teacher Stephanie Costa and Teacher Association President Jon Wedvik.

In a letter to the community Tuesday, Federation officials said, “Although the video – comparing the first-century CE Roman world’s perception of the Jewish and Christian faiths and communities – came from a district-approved educational resource, it was historically inaccurate and misrepresented the nature of Judaism.”

According to the Federation:

• School officials spoke with the teacher and counseled her on the video’s inappropriate content.
• A directive was issued to district faculty not to use videos from the vendor.
• The teacher, with the principal present, explained to the classes why the video was incorrect and misleading and apologized for offending students.
• The principal and the teacher sent letters of apology to students and parents.
• The district contacted the content provider and requested removal of the video. After review, the vendor removed it from their website and YouTube channel.

Also, Federation officials said in their statement, “the district agreed to consult with the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education as it develops curriculum addressing inter-group relations and appreciation for differences.”

Morton wrote a letter to the school community, according to Monsey.com:

Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff,

I have received a number of inquiries regarding a video that was shown in 9th grade social studies classrooms at South High School. As described by the principal, Ms. Tarantino, in a letter to the South community, the video purported to portray the experiences of two religions, Judaism and Christianity, during the time of the Roman Empire. In the same communication, Ms. Tarantino also offered an apology on behalf of the District for use of this inappropriate material.

The video depicted Judaism in a demeaning and historically inaccurate way. The principal and the teacher have worked with the students and their families to underscore that the use of this video was a mistake and to address any concerns they may have regarding this experience. My administrative team reached out to the company that created the video to express our concerns. After reflection, the company recognized the issues with the presentation and removed it from use. In addition, the principal, teacher and my administrative team met with community leaders including the Jewish Federation of Rockland County and the Holocaust Museum for Tolerance and Education, who have offered their support to our students and the school in making this a positive learning experience. The focus of our conversation was on both the individual needs of students who were in the class, as well as the broader issue of social tolerance in society.

I must say that I was encouraged by the warmth and compassion of these leaders and their heartfelt desire to support the teacher, our students, and the District. I truly believe this was an example of people coming together for a positive purpose.

Our schools are enhanced by a strong community, and the engagement of parents, community leaders and the public to resolve differences and create a positive learning environment for each and every student.

Sincerely,

Dr. J. Thomas Morton

Superintendent of Schools