Editors’ note: An independent investigation ultimately found no evidence to support the claims of antisemitism in the district.
After listening to two hours of emotional public comment about accusations of antisemitism in Marblehead schools, the School Committee voted to hire an independent investigator to look into the claims and counterclaims.
More than 140 people, including several from the Israeli-American Civic Action Network, packed the School Committee meeting Thursday night, after a June 10 ICAN webinar where Veterans School teacher Brigitte Karns accused a high school world language teacher with the initials “C.S.” of making antisemitic statements. Karns also accused the teacher of tearing down the Israeli flag in the cafeteria and throwing it in a corner.
In that webinar, Karns said, “Marblehead has been knowingly supporting a hostile work environment of some of the Jewish teachers and students. The Marblehead Education Association is using intimidation tactics to silence Jews and then the administration is perpetuating antisemitic and anti-Israel ideology by remaining silent.”
The accused teacher, Candice Sliney, categorically denied the accusations Thursday night.
“In a recent public webinar, Brigitte Karns and other Marblehead public school employees accused me of hateful words and actions that are complete fabrications,” Sliney said. “Nonetheless, seeing that disturbing language repeated and reproduced over social media caused tremendous harm to our Jewish friends and neighbors, and I want to acknowledge the pain they were subjected to because of her choice to use such inflammatory language about a person she has never met.”
Sliney spoke about her public record of starting and leading Team Harmony, a local youth organization dedicated to fighting hate; working on the Marblehead Task Force Against Discrimination; and partnering with the ADL to train students and teachers to fight antisemitism and discrimination.
Referring to Karns, Sliney said, “Every single accusation was a lie. She has attacked my character, endangered my family and put my career at risk, with zero evidence.”
Sliney urged the School Committee to hire the independent investigator.
‘Met with retaliatory acts’
Karns spoke as well, saying, “Antisemitic language, anti-Israel bias and personal political ideologies have no place within our school community. Not adequately addressing complaints about them is troubling.”
Another teacher, Mindy Greenberg, said she is leaving Marblehead schools after 22 years “because of the hostile work environment of my co-workers.”
In addition to an outside investigator, Greenberg urged the School Committee to review the district’s civil rights complaints policies.
“The procedure was not followed by the district administration,” she said.
Greenberg described making complaints to district leaders.
“I was met with retaliatory acts,” she said. “I was told that my complaint was taken seriously and concluded. The harassment continued. What I went through this year has been horrible. The School Committee needs to take over the investigation and make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Defending Sliney
Multiple teachers spoke in defense of Sliney, including MHS Spanish teacher and varsity soccer coach Elmer Magana.
“The accusations of racism and antisemitism against our high school world languages department, and in particular Candice Sliney, are not true at all,” he said. “She has and continues to advocate for people of all walks of life. Please do not believe the statements you hear, especially on social media, even if they come from your community. Please check the facts. We treat everybody equally and with respect. We are Marblehead strong, and we shall overcome.”
Teacher Laura Alvarez added, “I am one of the teachers accused of antisemitism. We teach your children about empathy, respect and acceptance. We want to put a face to all the dreadful lies that have been told about us.”
Meredith Reardon, a longtime guidance counselor who worked with Sliney on Team Harmony and with the ADL, said, “I am a really good judge of character, and I can tell you Candice Sliney did not make those comments.”
Deacon John Whipple, who co-founded the Task Force Against Discrimination in Marblehead decades ago, defended Sliney and warned against unproven accusations.
“What I am urging everyone to understand is that an accusation is not necessarily true just because it has been made, even just because it has been made by somebody with whom you are in sympathy,” he said. “It has to be considered carefully. I think the fact that Candice Sliney is such a fine and upstanding member of the Task Force Against Discrimination and Team Harmony and the school faculty should give anyone pause.”
Three requests
Some residents of Marblehead, many identifying as Israeli-American, expressed concern and fear about the accusations of antisemitism.
“We must believe Jewish people when they say they’ve been victims of antisemitism,” said Yael Magen.
Magen requested three things from the School Committee. First, that it allows the Jewish community and Jewish organizations to vet whatever organization is chosen to do the investigation. Second, that it investigates all antisemitic incidents against teachers and students. And third, that the committee set up a volunteer task force of Jewish community members to go through all curriculum to make sure it is not antisemitic or anti-Israel.
Sarah Pouladian said both her children have experienced antisemitism in the last year from their Marblehead classmates.
“My son, 11 years old, came home and said, ‘I’m not scared, but what concerns me is that there may be someone in my class that obviously wants me to die.’ What would you say to your 11-year-old?”
Pouladian and other parents urged the School Committee to establish a volunteer task force made up of local Jewish residents that can make recommendations on combating antisemitism over the summer.
Several people, including Swampscott Rabbi Michael Ragozin, urged that the committee use the definition of antisemitism set by the International Holocaust Remembrance Association. That definition is, “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
The U.S. State Department has adopted the IHRA definition. Human Rights Watch and other critics of the definition, however, say two of the 11 examples of antisemitism it lists can be exploited to censor criticism of Israeli policies. They are: “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” and “ Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”
The School Committee said it would schedule a meeting the week of June 24 to review three investigation firms proposed by the committee’s lawyer, to choose the most appropriate one.
