Addressing Antisemitism through Social and Emotional Learning
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 1:00 PM PST / 4:00 PM EST
Antisemitism poses a threat to the security of Jewish communities and individuals globally.
Educational systems are an essential element in any comprehensive effort to address antisemitism and other forms of intolerance and discrimination. Schools and teachers can play a significant role in raising young people's awareness of the nature of antisemitism and its effect and in building their resilience to prejudice, extremist narratives, conspiracy thinking, and the toxic ideologies that drive discrimination and hatred.
This webinar will provide educators with the information and tools needed to build awareness about the importance of building social and emotional learning competencies to effectively respond to antisemitism in schools.
Social emotional learning (SEL) is an educational framework that aims to develop knowledge, skills, dispositions and capacities in students to help them manage their emotions, achieve personal goals, cultivate empathy, develop strong relationships and make responsible decisions. Transformative SEL (TSEL), as described by the American Federation of Teachers, infuses SEL practice with social justice education and culturally relevant pedagogies with an emphasis on developing and validating identity, agency, belonging, collaborative problem solving and curiosity.
Integrating testimony as a fundamental tool in developing TSEL capacities is an impactful approach to surface alternative perspectives that offer students an innovative way to develop critical thinking skills and social emotional aptitudes for understanding the profound impact their words and actions can have on them and others.
Part 1:
How to address Antisemitism through Social and Emotional Learning
1pm PT/4pm ET - 2pm PT/5pm ET
This session will introduce the social and emotional learning frameworks to address prejudice and antisemitism in the classroom and highlight the power of storytelling to reduce instances of both.
Presenters will include Kimberly Skukalek, member of the Equity Team for Pinellas Co and FEA and a National Trainer in Foundations of Effective Teaching from American Federation of Teachers.
Part 2:
Teaching with Testimony to Address Contemporary Antisemitism and Hate Speech
2pm PT/5pm ET - 3pm PT/6pm ET
This session will demonstrate how testimony-based resources examine issues of identity, power, and antisemitism in the stories of Holocaust survivors and witnesses and contemporary incidents of antisemitism. These resources deepen student agency, capacity for treating others with fairness and respect, and validation of self and others from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts.
Presenters will include Lesly Culp, Interim Director of Education and Outreach at USC Shoah Foundation, and closing remarks will be given by Cecilia Barbieri, Chief of Section of Global Citizenship and Peace Education, Division of Peace and Sustainability, Education Sector, UNESCO.
To inform the effort to address antisemitism in schools, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), have partnered with University of Southern California Shoah Foundation - Institute for Visual History and Education (USC SFI), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and Echoes & Reflections to make professional development available for educators.
With this webinar, the partnership introduces the second of six micro-credentials opportunities that will support participants in earning a Shine a Light Educator Countering Antisemitism certification.
Made possible by Shine a Light on Antisemitism, an initiative formed to raise awareness about modern antisemitism through education, community partnerships, workplace engagement, and advocacy.
