Union pulls ‘anti-Israel’ teaching pack
THE NATIONAL Union of Teachers has temporarily withdrawn a new educational resource which aimed to “illustrate the daily struggles experienced by Palestinian children”, following an outcry that it was one-sided and unbalanced.
In a statement, the union said it had pulled the teaching pack, titled “My Name is Saleh”, which it had developed with educational charity Edukid for nine- to 16-year-olds.
Theunionsaid:“Weremainconfident in the materials, but we are always prepared to consider any concerns about publications we have any involvement with.”
The Board of Deputies, which had raised concerns that the pack presented a partisan view in contravention of laws governing political education in schools, welcomed the move.
Board chief executive Gillian Merron said: “We are pleased that the NUT have decided to pull its tendentious Edukid teaching resource, albeit temporarily.
“Pupils learning about what is a very complicated conflict should be given a balanced view rather than this onesided account and we appreciate the support of government on the issue.”
The NUT came under fire last week from politicians and Jewish leaders after it was revealed that it was offering schools a series of books and videos that profiled suffering Palestinian children. The Palestinian boy who features in the NUT teaching pack
Introducing the resource, NUT General Secretary Christine Blower said it had been “inspired by a union delegation visit to Palestine in 2013, where members experienced the dignity and resilience of Palestinian teachers and young people”.
Lobby groups including Conservative Friends of Israel, Sussex Friends of Israel and North West Friends of Israel expressed outrage.
Professor Gerald Steinberg, president of the Israel-based charity watchdog NGO Monitor, called the resource “hardcore Palestinian propaganda”.
He said: “It certainly fits the criteria of new antisemitism, in terms of allegations and accusations about Israel that are designed to put Israel in the most negative light possible. There is no factchecking, no independent analysis.”
The resource was reported to both the Charities Commission and to the Department for Education. Both said they would investigate the matter.
A DfE spokesperson said this week: “The law is crystal clear that all political discussionsinschoolshouldbeunbiased and balanced. Teachers should only use teachingmaterialswhicharesuitable for their children and we trust them to decide which resources to use in their lessons.”
Sir Eric Pickles, chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel, noted that the resource referred to Israelis as Jews, which he said was “particularly objectionable”.
Initially, the NUT had responded to critics by arguing that alongside the resource they worked “with many organisations, including the Holocaust Educational Trust, to produce materials for schools”.