At its annual Representative Assembly in Portland, Oregon, on July 5, delegates from the National Education Association (NEA) voted to approve a new business item that recommended that the NEA “not use, endorse, or publicize any materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), such as its curricular materials or its statistics” and “not participate in ADL programs,” CNN reports.
The vote was a narrow one and, due to NEA rules, the recommendation was forwarded to the NEA Executive Committee for further consideration. The Executive Committee, in turn, referred the matter to the Board of Directors, which ultimately decided against implementing the proposal, according to Politico.
The decision followed a contentious debate. Supporters of the measure argued that the ADL is not a reliable social justice partner, citing concerns over its stance on issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its definition of antisemitism, which they believe stifles criticism of Israel. The measure’s opponents and the ADL itself condemned the vote, with the ADL calling it a “radical, antisemitic agenda.”
“We will not be cowed for supporting Israel, and we will not be deterred from our work reaching millions of students with educational programs every year,” an ADL spokesperson said in a statement following the vote.
In a statement following the Board of Directors’ decision not to adopt the proposal, NEA President Becky Pringle said that the union consulted with various groups, including Jewish American and Arab American community leaders, and that the proposal would not further the NEA’s commitment to academic freedom or its goals, according to Education Week.
Ms Pringle said the union would use a “diverse and knowledgeable group of NEA practitioners” to review any materials the union uses or curriculum and tools to combat antisemitism. “As educators, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring our schools and campuses are safe and welcoming for all students, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or identity with no exceptions,” Education Week quoted her as saying. “That is fundamental to who we are as educators and the core of who we are as a union.”
