City schools fighting back against hate with school plan

City Public School Chancellor David Banks announced a plan Monday to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all hate. Banks said he met with community members, school staff, families, and students to draw up the plan.

“We are taking decisive steps in the areas of education, safety, and engagement to ensure that every student and staff member feels valued and welcomed in our schools, irrespective of their background,” he said in a prepared statement. “Our children are the future, and we have the responsibility to nurture a generation that is not only well-educated but also empathetic and respectful of diversity.”

The plan includes new ways to support school teachers and administration. School principals will receive updated training on the disciplinary code for bullying and bigoted acts. Reporting will be made easier in order to prioritize investigations into antisemitism and Islamophobia. The Chancellor’s office will create an Inter-Faith Advisory Council to assist in response to the city’s faith community.

The plan is comprehensive and aims to support schools, students, and faculty wholly in the battle against hate.

— Izania Gonzalez