Statement on the NEA handbook

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Becky Pringle: 

“The National Education Association has opposed antisemitism throughout its history and is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and inclusion of Jewish educators and students. NEA regularly shares resources and supports educator workshops on Holocaust education, antisemitism, and ways to promote understanding of Jewish culture, heritage and history. This reflects NEA’s ongoing commitment to teach about Holocaust history and to counter the antisemitism that laid the groundwork for the systematic murder of six million Jews and the persecution and murder of millions of others by the Nazi regime. This document is not a handbook for use in the classroom, but a compilation of the more than 100 new business items adopted by NEA last year, which largely relate to the variety of materials NEA provides. These new business items also include calls to stand up against antisemitism, promote Holocaust Remembrance and education, and promote content to mark Jewish American Heritage Month.” 

Background: 

The NEA handbook has been updated to read as follows

83. International Holocaust Remembrance Day*

NEA shall promote International Holocaust

Remembrance Day on January 27 annually on its website and through other appropriate media to recognize the systemic persecution and murder of six million Jews. The Nazi regime also persecuted and murdered millions of other victims viewed as enemies or threats because of their differing faiths, ethnicities, races, political beliefs, gender identification, sexual orientation, and abilities.

*Editor's Note: This NBI has been updated to correct errors and omissions and to best reflect the intent of the maker and to reflect how NEA Board instructed it to be implemented. To see more about how the NBI was implemented, visit NEA's resources (https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/resources-counter-antisemitism-and-holocaust-denial) on how to push back against antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.