AB 715: A Primer
I suspect almost none of the numerous op-eds on this bill are from people who have actually read it. Go ahead. I'll be here when you get back. Did you notice what I noticed? It really doesn't have much at all to do with antisemitism. In fact, none of the language that will actually change the law mentions Israel and "Jews" are only mentioned in establishing the office of the antisemitism coordinator. None of the Education Code changes affecting instructions mention Jews or Israel.
As the state Senate's Bill Analysis says,
Existing law [already]:
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Prohibits the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school from adopting or approving the use of any textbook, instructional material, supplemental instructional material, or curriculum for classroom instruction if the use of the textbook, instructional material, supplemental instructional material, or curriculum would subject a pupil to unlawful discrimination pursuant to Section 220. (EC § 244)
Prohibits a teacher from giving instruction and a school district from
sponsoring any activity that promotes a discriminatory bias on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. (EC § 51500)
Prohibits the State Board of Education (SBE) and any governing board from adopting any textbooks or other instructional materials for use in the public schools that contain any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. (EC § 51501)
Prohibits a governing board from adopting any instructional materials for use in the schools that, in its determination, contain any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, occupation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. (EC § 60044)
You should also know that other legislation proposes to establish other discrimination prevention coordinators for religion, race and ethnicity, gender discrimination, and LGBTQ discrimination.
Yet all of the objections and numerous op-eds in opposition to it say it will stifle legitimate criticism of Israel. Legitimate, of course, if you have been subject to the ocean of Rule 1 violating "facts," but that's not even the point. Why is a neutral law designed to prevent students being harassed on the basis of their membership in a protected class controversial? In California?
Some of the organizations opposed to this legislation include several JVP chapters, several DSA chapters, both major teachers unions, and several other Pro-Palestinian groups. Wait. DSA and teachers' unions are opposed to preventing kids from discrimination in schools, despite the law already not allowing it?
They oppose this law because it will do exactly that. It will deter their campaign of shaming Jewish and Israeli students for a war they have no control over, either in the guise of "ethnic studies" or by sneaking it into a math lesson. Somehow the ongoing harassment of Israeli and Jews, they claim, will free Palestine. We know that's not how this works and what's more likely is that they are funneling their rage about politics or taking out their Internet poisoning on their students. On our children.
And, in no small part, they oppose it because Jewish organizations and a Jewish assemblywoman supported the bill. In their minds, any victory for Jewish anything cannot be allowed.
How will this law prevent anything that isn't already prevented? Isn't that my point? It won't directly, but the office of the antisemitism coordinator will potentially expose and provide responses to the kinds of incidents that have occurred where teachers just can't seem to explain things without mentioning Palestine in a way that shames Jewish students.
The state senate passed the bill 35-0 and the assembly concurred 71-0. It now awaits Governor Newsom's signature. Go support JPAC's efforts to get him to sign it.