Residents: article handed out at Newton South was 'anti Semitic'

By Chloe Gotsis
Wicked Local Newton
Posted Oct 26, 2011 @ 02:18 PM

Newton
More than half a dozen residents spoke out at Monday nights School Committee meeting against an
article that was distributed to students in a Newton South High School World History class, calling it antiSemitic.
Residents like Margot Einstein said the article, which is from a chapter in Arab World Notebook, is
biased and full of lies. Rosaline Barron said she was shocked to learn that children in the schools are
reading material that states that Israeli Defense Forces are imprisoning, torturing and killing Palestinian
women.
The residents heard about the article after Newton South parent Tony Pagliuso told the Newton TAB his
daughter was given the chapter on women from the book in World History teacher Jessica Engels class.
Newton School Superintendent David Fleishman told the group of residents at the meeting Monday night
that both he and Principal Joel Stembridge have spoken to Pagliuso.
Fleishman said the article has been used by other teachers previously and was selected by the former
Social Studies department head. He said the article is part of an effort to make sure students get a
balanced perspective on all issues.
When students study African American history, they will often read racist authors, Fleishman said. We
want to make sure our students get a balanced perspective. This is a community that engages its
students.
Fleishman and School Committee Chairwoman Claire Sokoloff said they are reviewing the comments
they received Monday night.