Every student and educator deserves to learn and work without fear of discrimination or racism. Yet, anti-Palestinian racism, an underrecognized, pervasive, and highly prevalent form of racism, is harming the health and wellbeing of our students, teachers and administrators. At the Institute for the Understanding of Anti-Palestinian Racism (IUAPR), we are dedicated to raising awareness of this injustice and helping K-12 schools create environments where all forms of racism are addressed.
Our student and educator data sheds light on the detrimental effects of anti-Palestinian racism: a clear majority of students and educators feel alone and isolated in their concern for Palestinian human rights and 75% report negative mental and physical health effects.
To respond to this pervasive and under-recognized problem, our team of pediatricians, psychologists, lawyers and antiracism educators has developed the attached recommendations for K-12 schools to address, counter and reduce this specific, pervasive and underrecognized form of racism.
The recommendations address such topics as:
-How to uphold free speech rights while fostering students’ ability to learn about difficult topics
-How to support the physical, social, emotional and mental health of all students
-How to facilitate opportunities for student support and foster a sense of belonging
-How to restore the trust in our schools that families of all backgrounds deserve
We draw upon real world examples from our communities, highlighting both missteps and success stories, to offer practical strategies.
Students do not exist in a vacuum, they are aware of global and national events. The murder of 6 year old Wadea Al-Fayoumi, the shooting of college students Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdelhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmed, the drowning attempt of a 3 and 6 year old in Texas are among the incidents that reverberate through our classrooms and communities. Our data suggests that anti-Palestinian racism impacts a higher percentage of students and educators than previously expected, is highly prevalent in schools, and is having a deleterious impact on students’ and educators’ health and wellness.
We can help schools regain critical trust by demonstrating to families that you are taking anti-Palestinian racism seriously. Our schools can show that Palestinian families, and those who care about human rights for all community members, are seen, heard, and belong.
IUAPR is ready to partner with your educational institution to provide training, assist with policy development, and support your work to combat discrimination and hatred. As we all navigate this challenging time, please use us as a resource.
We hope you will find the attached guide helpful in maintaining an educational community where each student can learn without fear of discrimination.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
Sincerely,
The Institute for the Understanding of Anti-Palestinian Racism