QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 16, 2023 Page 20
C M SQ page 20 Y K
Hate speech in city schools
PHOTO COURTESY NYC COUNCIL
Ariola swears in future leaders Councilwoman Joann Ariola, at podium, visited PS/MS 207 of Howard Beach on Nov. 13 to swear in the newest student council members for the school year. According to school social worker Melissa Meric, the students pledged their oaths to the Constitution and Ariola led them in a discussion on what inspired them to apply
for these leadership roles. Meric said students responded, “to help others, to lead, and to support friends.” On social media, Ariola wrote, “I had the honor of swearing in the student council at PS/MS 207 this morning. Congratulations to all of those who have been elected by their peers!” — Kristen Guglielmo
continued from page 4 “I am therefore calling upon Chancellor Banks to launch an immediate investigation into the actions taken by the CEC 14 president, and other participating school-affiliated groups, in relation to all rules, regulations and policies that were violated,” she said, also demanding to “know what public dollars are being used to promote this rally, as the CEC receives public funds.” Others also have suggested a probe, as CEC members are held to the Conflicts of Interest Law, which prohibits engaging in political activity during work, according to the city. While CEC 14 encouraged protests, what are the Queens CECs doing to address these events? When checking the websites of the seven groups in the borough, only three have acknowledged the events on their platforms. On Oct. 12, Flushing’s CEC 25 published a letter to families from the interim acting superintendent, Michael Dantona, who reassured them that the NYPD is monitoring social media for threats. He said they remain in constant contact with the police, and that there are no specific threats to the schools. “In times of great upheaval and uncertainty, it is easy for fear and rumors to flourish,” Dantona wrote. “It is important that students are equipped with the tools
they need to discern fact from fiction.” According to its website, CEC 26 in Bayside voted on a resolution on Nov. 8, which denounced hateful rhetoric following the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. “The ensuing violence has taken the lives of the innocent, both Jewish and Muslim men, women and children,” the text said. “The Council deeply expresses sympathy for our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, and hopes for a lasting cessation of the violence.” The resolution also voiced support for the statement from Adams and Banks, and was approved unanimously by all members of the council in attendance. CEC 30 of Long Island City drafted a resolution condemning the Oct. attacks in Israel and committing to fostering a “safe and respectful learning environment for all students.” At its Oct. 16 meeting, the council voted in favor of withdrawing the resolution. According to the transcript, one member said, “How can [this CEC] possibly vocalize support for one group without disregarding the legitimacy and claims of the other?” The Elmhurst teacher echoed similar sentiments. “All sides deserve a voice, and calling for a ceasefire isn’t evil, but antiSemitism is evil. And I don’t think students or staff should be disrupting education for Q international affairs. It’s needless.”
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