Chancellor Blasted Over School Violence

Following incidents of violence and antisemitism at Hillcrest High School in Queens, members of the state Assembly's Education Committee demanded "immediate and steadfast attention" to the issue from the city's school chancellor.

"The tepid public statements from Chancellor David Banks are simply not enough. New Yorkers deserve swift, significant action to remedy this situation to ensure these reprehensible acts are never repeated," the nine Republicans on the committee wrote in a public statement.

Students at the Jamaica Hills school threatened a teacher after they learned she had posted a pro-Israel picture on social media as the controversy heated up over the Hamas terrorist attack in October and Israel's subsequent invasion of the Gaza Strip. A school safety officer was attacked as up to 400 rioters roamed the school's halls.

"There is no place for hatred or division in our public schools, yet we have seen rallies supporting terrorism, arrests of publicity-seeking lawmakers, professors praising violence, and threats against Jewish teachers and students, signaling the infection of radical beliefs that must be stopped from spreading into our school system," the lawmakers said. "As leaders and role models, all officials have a duty to instill higher values in students and safeguard communities–especially in times of crisis."

The education committee's Minority Caucus is headed by Assemblyman Douglas Smith of Ronkonkoma, a state-certified Mathematics Teacher. Other members from Long Island are Ari Brown of Cedarhurst, John Mikulin of Bethpage, and Merrick's Dave McDonough.

"The events in Queens were wholly unacceptable and threaten to poison other schools if left unaddressed," Assemblyman Smith said. "Tolerance of hatred and empty retorts will no longer suffice. We demand an end to indoctrination and an immediate return to safe, apolitical learning environments across the city school system."

In the wake of the attack on Israel, which saw Hamas terrorists commit more than 1,200 murders and go on a rape and torture rampage, the Assembly Republicans proposed the "Dismantling Student Antisemitism Act" to implement mandated training for students, faculty, and staff as well as require institutions to annually report measures to combat hate, including antisemitism.

Chancellor David Banks pictured here attending a memorial for a 12-year-old who was shot in the head and killed. File Photo

"We await transparent results and seek true reforms arising from the investigation into Hillcrest High School. New York schools must remain secure learning environments for all students. This can start, for example, with the city reversing their shortsighted decision to cancel new academy classes of NYPD School Safety Agents despite a citywide shortage of more than 1,100 agents," the Assembly members noted. "The time for mere dialogue is over. Real action against those responsible for last week's incidents and bold reforms to eliminate hatred and ensure student security are required. The city's failure to do so may warrant a revocation of Mayoral Control and appointment of a state monitor to achieve substantial improvements to keep our children, faculty, and staff safe in their schools."

"It's clear that the administration of Hillcrest is totally compromised and either unwilling or unable to do what's necessary to provide a safe environment to their students or their faculty," said Queens City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, who called for the school to be shut down until a full and thorough investigation can be conducted. "They seem more than willing to cover up crimes committed by their students in service of a political narrative and to prevent these criminal students from facing consequences," Paladino continued. "The students who committed these acts must be arrested immediately and face appropriate criminal charges. This cannot continue in our schools. Order and discipline must be restored."