Tools & Strategies

A Middle School Curriculum For Educators | Grades 6, 7, 8   GRADE LEVELS: Middle School (grades 6, 7, 8) TOPICS: Communication, Conflict Resolution, Identity, Media, Bias, Bullying and Cyberbullying, Injustice, Social Action, Student Advocacy COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language   Buy the Curriculum It's recommended to use the curriculum in conjunction with a training from your local ADL office. About the Middle…

What is anti-Semitism? Anti-Semitism is a form of prejudice or discrimination directed toward Jews as individuals or as a group. Anti-Semitism is based on age-old stereotypes and myths that target Jews as a people, their religious practices and beliefs, or the Jewish State of Israel.  Words or actions related to Israel are anti-Semitic when they blame all Jews for the actions of the state, single out Israel in denying the country’s right to exist as a Jewish state and an…

In the 1930s, the dean of Yale University’s medical school — who was Jewish himself — reportedly advised his admissions team, “Never admit more than five Jews, take only two Italian Catholics, and take no blacks at all.”  The American college campus has come a long way in the past century. Colleges are more diverse, and there are greater efforts to create inclusive environments whereby all students feel comfortable on campus. But that does not mean you…

What is the source of our free speech rights? Free speech rights emanate from the First Amendment to the Constitution[1] and from state constitutions. The Federal Constitution limits government action and applies to all public/state colleges and universities. It serves as a floor, not a ceiling. State constitutions may grant more robust free speech rights than the Federal Constitution, but never fewer. Is there a distinction between private and public universities? Unlike public…

For Educators | For Parents, Families, and Caregivers As part of our ongoing efforts to provide current, relevant and quality educational resources in various formats, ADL offers a free podcast series that you can listen to at your convenience. Each podcast offers a rich and inspiring conversation with a specialist in the field or children's book author. The podcasts assist educators in building inclusive and respectful classrooms and provide timely and important information on curricula…

For Educators Individuals, including parents, and groups who have no formal relationship to a school (Third Parties) may distribute religious materials, including Bibles, to students outside of school premises. They may also discuss religious matters with students. Third-party materials or publications of a religious viewpoint may be distributed on- campus to the same extent distribution of third-party secular materials is permitted. However, courts have applied different rules to…

For Educators During school hours, outside religious organizations and clubs must not meet at public schools. After school hours, such groups may meet at a public school only if the school permits other outside clubs and organizations to meet at the same time, under the same terms and conditions, and does not endorse the club or organization's religious activity.1 2 SPECIFIC ISSUES & QUESTIONS May religious clubs meet in public schools? During school hours: An outside religious…

For Educators Release time in the public schools refers to programs in which students are released from school early to attend religious classes off school premises. Participating students must have permission from their parents. Nonparticipating students remain in school. Such programs may be constitutional if the religious classes take place off school grounds, if no public school funds are expended, and if school officials or teachers do not promote program attendance through coercion or…

For Educators Public schools may not teach religion, although teaching about religion in a secular context is permitted.1 The Bible may be taught in a school, but only for its historical, cultural or literary value and never in a devotional, celebratory or doctrinal manner, or in such a way that encourages acceptance of the Bible as a religious document.2 SPECIFIC ISSUES & QUESTIONS What distinguishes "teaching religion" from "teaching about religion"? Religion may be presented…