Pennsylvania Senate committee hears testimony on antisemitism in schools, citing CAMERA report
The Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee held a hearing on antisemitism in K-12 schools on 30 September. Coverage from two right-leaning outlets highlights a CAMERA report on Philadelphia's curriculum and testimony on harassment.
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The story, neutrally told
The Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee held a public hearing on antisemitism in schools on Wednesday, 30 September. The Jerusalem PostRC “during a public hearing held by the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee on Wednesday” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ JNSR “The Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by state senator Dave Argall, held the Sept. 30 hearing” Read at JNS ↗ According to the Jerusalem Post, lawmakers drew on CAMERA's 81-page report "Shaping Minds, Spreading Hate: How Antisemitism Took Root in the School District of Philadelphia", written by Rebecca Schgallis, director of CAMERA's K-12 Program. The Jerusalem PostRC “Written by Rebecca Schgallis, Director of CAMERA's K-12 Program” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ CAMERA's report says the district's social studies curriculum moved from chronological history toward thematic material on capitalism, racism and settler colonialism, with limited or absent coverage of events such as the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, both World Wars and the Cold War. The Jerusalem PostRC “The report found major gaps in world history coverage” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Schgallis said the curriculum used an "oppressor/oppressed binary lens" that cast Jews, Israel and the United States as oppressors. CAMERA also said Pennsylvania's vague standards and lack of state assessments allowed this. These are CAMERA's findings and the coverage does not record a response from the district. The Jerusalem PostRC “cast Jews, Israel, and even the United States as oppressors”“vague social studies standards and lack of state assessments provided an opening” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ CAMERA began the investigation after Philadelphia parents asked it to examine the district's use of Zinn Education Project materials following antisemitic incidents after 7 October 2023, and it has also contributed to a US House Committee on Education and the Workforce investigation of the district. The Jerusalem PostRC “following multiple antisemitic incidents after October 7, 2023”“CAMERA also contributed its expertise to the US House Committee on Education and the Workforce's investigations” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ JNS reported that educators, parents and Jewish communal leaders testified, including representatives of the ADL of Philadelphia and the Jewish Federations of Greater Philadelphia and Greater Pittsburgh, and Andrea Martin of the state Human Relations Commission. JNSR “Andrea Martin, a member of the state's Human Relations Commission, also testified.” Read at JNS ↗
Teacher Julie Webb testified that she found a swastika on an eraser and the word "Jew" on a desk and saw no result beyond preliminary questioning. Daniel Knoll described a student called a "dirty Jew" and pelted with pennies. Andrew Goretsky of the ADL said there were 25 antisemitic incidents in Pennsylvania K-12 schools in 2025, up from 21 the year before. JNSR “found a swastika on an eraser and the word "Jew" written on a classroom desk”“there were 25 antisemitic incidents in Pennsylvania's K-12 schools in 2025, up from 21 the previous year” Read at JNS ↗ Steve Rosenberg of the North American Values Institute said his group spent over a year seeking the hearing and sees it as building a public record for pressure on districts, including possible legal action by parents. He said it is easier to act when Republicans hold the Senate majority and that Democrats he met have so far "chosen not to do anything". JNSR “NAVI spent more than a year pursuing the hearing”“"They've chosen not to do anything," he told JNS.” Read at JNS ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
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Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the hearing as validation of advocacy groups' concerns about antisemitism in Pennsylvania schools. The Jerusalem Post centres CAMERA's report and Schgallis's statements, and JNS centres testimony and NAVI's strategy.
- Emphasis
- CAMERA's curriculum findings, the 'oppressor/oppressed' framing, personal accounts of harassment, and advocates' plans for legislative and legal pressure.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither reports a response from the School District of Philadelphia, Democratic lawmakers or critics of the CAMERA report. The Jerusalem Post quotes only CAMERA. JNS quotes almost only NAVI's Rosenberg about the hearing's purpose.
- Charged language
- “Jew-hatred”“wake-up call”“training grounds for Jew-hatred”
- For example
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“I hope the hearing is a wake-up call for Pennsylvania elected officials and parents” — The Jerusalem Post
“public schools would become training grounds for Jew-hatred” — JNS
What every side reports
- The Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee held a hearing on antisemitism in schools on Wednesday 30 September.
- The hearing drew on advocacy groups' research and testimony about antisemitism in Pennsylvania schools.
CAMERA organisation
CAMERA says its research shows lawmakers should look at school policy and curriculum, not only individual incidents, and that the district's curriculum cast Jews and Israel as oppressors.
“lawmakers need to look beyond individual incidents and investigate how broader school policy and curricular initiatives” — The Jerusalem Post
North American Values Institute organisation
NAVI says it lobbied for over a year for the hearing and aims to use legislative action, legal action and strategic communications to pressure districts.
“through the continued pressure of legislative action, legal action and strategic communications, we think that we can turn the tide” — JNS
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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JNSR ·
Pennsylvania state lawmakers hold hearing on Jew-hatred in public schools
Sympathetic Reports testimony and NAVI's strategy of building a public record to pressure districts, with advocacy quotes prominent.
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CAMERA reporting on antisemitism in Philadelphia schools cited in public hearing
Sympathetic Relays CAMERA's report and Schgallis's statements largely as stated, with no outside response.
- 1 Oct 17:40 First The Jerusalem PostRC CAMERA reporting on antisemitism in Philadelphia schools cited in public hearing
- 1 Oct 18:27 +47m JNSR Pennsylvania state lawmakers hold hearing on Jew-hatred in public schools
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.