I have been a teacher since 1997, and I have committed my entire career towards fighting for justice and equality for all and analyzing global challenges. I guide children to use their critical thinking skills to scrutinize history so that they may discern fact from perspective and ultimately arrive at the truth.
For example, I teach about the “Silent Holocaust” in Guatemala and the perils of fascism through the role of Nazi Germany in the Spanish Civil War.
I also strive to give back to the community where I both work and live. For the past two years, I guided the students who spoke at the Marblehead Holocaust remembrance ceremonies.
On Saturday, May 8, 2021, I sent our former superintendent an email that I titled, “An important read for our district,” and I included a link to an article by Meg Woolhouse, “When Teaching About the Holocaust Isn’t Enough.”
My record speaks for itself.
The slanderous accusations being spread by a coworker from another building who does not know me have been fabricated as part of a larger agenda to silence discourse on Israel and Palestine, and I have been caught in the middle. I believe that it is because of my public record of speaking up for persecuted communities that I am being targeted for a broader political agenda.
My coworker’s false and vile claims on the Israeli Civic Action Network webinar with 700 live viewers and countless others on social media have defamed our school system and community, and I do hope that the district takes action. As the ICAN webinar was shared on local Facebook pages, I was threatened with violence, and my daughters who are recent MHS graduates suffered from the effects.
It did not take me long to figure out that the accusations against me are taking place in a much larger political context. Nationally and internationally, a highly controversial definition of antisemitism is being promoted by organizations with an Israel-aligned agenda. This definition, called the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism, conflates criticism of Israel and antisemitism. In other words, saying anything negative about Israel’s discriminatory laws, actions or policies is considered antisemitic according to this definition — even though Israel is a country, not a religion.
In the current political climate, the accusation of antisemitism has become a weapon used to silence defenders of Palestinians and anyone who is critical of Israeli actions towards Palestinians. And, of course, I never criticized Israel, despite the accusations leveled against me.
This IHRA definition of antisemitism is extremely controversial and strongly disputed by many scholars of the Holocaust and antisemitism. Many Jewish leaders, including descendants of Holocaust survivors, are themselves accused of antisemitism when they speak out against Israeli policies.
In Massachusetts, a bill to codify the IHRA definition into state law had no defenders at its legislative hearing except the representative who sponsored it.
Now, however, there is a push (as evidenced at the January meeting of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education) to mandate that it be adopted in Massachusetts schools. It is my belief that my case is being used by those claiming that such a definition is necessary.
Given the fact that the IHRA definition was explicitly mentioned in the ICAN webinar, at the Marblehead School Committee meeting by various speakers, many from out of town and by members of our School Committee, it seems to me that there is an organized effort to construct the situation in Marblehead as an example to be used in promoting it. In other words, my case is being used to further a political agenda.
I believe the accusations and lies that I have been subjected to take place in the context of national efforts to silence educators who stand up for inclusivity.
There is no zero-sum game when it comes to students: The safety of one group of students should never come at the expense of another group of students. This case will not deter me from continuing to be an ally to Jewish, Palestinian and other Arab and Muslim students and to all students who are marginalized by any form of racism.
Candice Sliney is a Spanish teacher at Marblehead High School.
