A political cartoon about the Mideast conflict appeared last week on a global-studies Regents exam — sparking cries of “anti-Israel propaganda” from some lawmakers, teachers and students.
The political cartoon, which was part of last Tuesday’s examination, illustrated three soldiers in the midst of fire hiding behind a table with the caption reading, “I knew this peace table would come in handy someday,” with one of the soldiers identified with a Star of David on their back.
Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) slammed the NYS Board of Regents Wednesday morning after this year’s Global Studies Regents examination featured a prejudiced political cartoon portraying Jewish soldiers in a disgusting and demeaning fashion.
“Who is responsible for allowing this incredibly biased, anti-Israel propaganda be part of a Global Studies Regents exam,” Hikind said. “I want to know who at the Board of Regents thought it was appropriate to incorporate such prejudice into their examination. This is beyond comprehension and is the epitome of disrespect to those who care deeply about Israel’s survival.”
Added Hikind: “I call on the Board of Regents to apologize for their insensitivity and irresponsible decision to include such material in their curriculum. We send a very dangerous message when we elect to use propaganda like this in our examinations. What exactly are we testing our students on when we present them with biased cartoons? Rather than educating our children on issues in the Middle East, we’re presenting them with horrible, slanted images that will only jade their point of view moving forward.”
Some students pushed back on test day, including a Forest Hills HS 10th-grader who told a teacher he felt targeted, according to a classmate, the NY Post reported.
“The entire class said it was offensive, but the teachers told us it was a random question [the exam creators] found online and put it in the test,” said the student who declined to give his name. “A Jewish kid then told the teacher he felt insulted. He said he felt like they were putting the blame on his religion.”
State Education Department spokesman Jonathan Burman defended the question to the NY Post, saying it “measures the students’ ability to analyze a political cartoon, understand the cartoonist’s point of view and apply that information to the questions being asked.”
“Political cartoons contained on Regents exams are sometimes very pointed, but they are never intended to represent the point of view of the Board of Regents or the Education Department on a given issue,” Burman told the NY Post.
Things like this instill anti-Israel & anti-Jewish attitudes in vulnerable American youth and therefore contribute greatly to discomfort of Jewish youth in schools & on campuses.
Trust me as a recent high school graduate I had to learn the regents world and American history. The only time jews are mentioned in world history is that we were “persecuted” And various expulsions. As if we contributed nothing at all to the world but expulsions and mass killings. But the WORST is how the teach the ‘Palestinian-Israeli ‘ conflict. The attitude is so screwed against Israel, and they misrepresent alot of the facts. Some questions, I purposefully got wrong because they were straight up lies about israel. Not that anyone will ever no or care. I’m not saying… Read more »
Read comment #24, I think your opinion will change.
People who would shield students from analyzing political cartoons like this one are in favor of raising a generation of fragile and clueless people who are afraid of dealing with reality. Dov Hikind misunderstood the intent of this cartoon, as many have pointed out in the previous comments. Who provided the table for the purpose of holding peace talks? Why was the table never used for that purpose? Who is under attack here? Remember Charlie Hebdo. Reasonable people don’t get enraged over cartoons.
What was the fourth choice on the test
After reading everyone’s comments here and seeing how many like myself do not see it as offensive, since it in fact shows Israeli soldiers having to hide behind the table of peace as their being shot at…. I have concluded that I most agree with #22 who says that the cartoon especially to children can be very easily misunderstood. Therefore, I am in agreement that is should not have been placed on the test.
If the cartoon is just trying to portray that peace negotiations don’t bring peace, then why do you ONLY see Israelis shooting at Palestinians, where are the Palestinians with rockets and suiside bombs?
Forthmore, why are the Israeli soldiers using the table used for negotiating PEACE as a means of attacking Palestinians? From what the Israeli soldiers is saying it seems as if the only reason Israel agrees to peace negotiations is to attack and use vilonce against Palestinians.
The cartoon is definitely a biased anti-israel propaganda and should definitely not be part of a school curriculum.
Nothing wrong with cartoon. This is a typical style.
Dear Mr. Hikind start classes in ‘Torah’ and 7 Noahide Laws…more important!
I started and contiinue to spread knowledge of these laws. I’ve spoken to 5,000 people…mostly non-Jews. Thanks!
The cartoon itself shows that the negotiations were worthless and the Israelis need to take cover from shooting Palestinians. My problem is that many kids will take it wrong like so many of you here and misunderstand the meaning -“look the Israeli is shooting!”.
This can give the wrong message to young kids.
The fault is with the Board of regents & Board of Education. Very poor choice.
Time for you to do the right thing. Actually and physically support Israel. When you live here, you can give your opinion.
Yes i agree it’s offensive but just so you know, the IDF emblem is a magen dovid.
What strikes me is how they deliberately get involved in a very hot topic with young kids. I am hoping they are young because with questions at that difficulty level… I’m just hoping
The Department of ‘Education’ is promoting its own non-educational agenda by raising a generation of brainwashed robots. Just like all the middle eastern countries that train them from infancy.
How quickly we forget, many many times the begging of horrific ani Semitic propaganda
As a political cartoon one might find in a newspaper editorial it is kind of clever. But as a question on a regents exam it is entirely inappropriate.
used to represent a high standard of education in NY. Passing the required exams along with good grades would make any high school student an eligible candidate for a decent college in the US. Now, sadly, the Regents are falling prey to the lowering standards of the public school systems.
Do you even know how cartoons work? It’s a natural shorthand way of showing that they are Israeli soldiers (the more so given that the Star of David is in the Israeli flag). No different than the way real-life figures are often shown with exaggerated body parts (Obama’s ears, Trump’s hair, etc.).
On the contrary, the cartoon expresses the truth, that the only use for a “peace table” is to provide some shelter when the enemy starts shooting again.
All it says is that the table is worthless- negatations have failed is the correct answer, so at least use it as a shield against Arab shooting. They’re not blaming us, on the contrary, the Israeli soldiers are looking for protection from shooting.
BTW, I’m an Israeli!
As number 7 pointed out, anyone with a brain in their head can see that the cartoonist is making the political point that peace TALKS do nothing. They simply lead to Israeli soldiers r”l having to defend themselves while hiding behind tables.
Lighten up. If anything it shows our hand is on top, and the peace process is a sham. Would like to see what the fourth answer was though, it may shed light on thier intentions.
I also fail to see the issue.
On the contrary.
We all getting bent out of shape for nonsense.
I was unaware that Israelis troops wore the Star of David on their backs to identify themselves. The Star of David is a symbol of Jewish identity worldwide. The fact that the author used the Star to identify an Israeli soldiers, is offensive in it of itself!
P.S if anyone wants to give the author a piece of their mind, you can message him here: https://www.creators.com/author/chris-britt
The cartoon shows how Gaza looks like a total disaster and the Israeli troops are hiding behind a ‘peace table’. It is fair to me and shows what the Isreali troops are up against. I don’t really find it offensive.
already suffer with on campus intimidation and harassment! This will only further fuel the fire. Though other cartoons used on the regents have been ‘pointed’ in the past, they have always been very careful not to use any that might be deemed offensive to the Israel’s opposition!?! What’s the excuse for this?
Incomprehensible! Outrage especially in NY!
Disgusting!
Now their true colors are coming out!!!!!
Time for Israel to do the right thing and stop worrying about
“What the world thinks!!!!!!”
Who’s getting fired because of this?
Mr. Burman should know it’s not just pointed it’s prejudiced!
I’m with you on this one 100%, it’s extremely offensive!