The Middle East Curriculum Starts Now: Here’s What Families Need to Know
- laura602012
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
This week marks the start of the Middle East curriculum in many Georgia classrooms—a unit that has historically been a flashpoint for bias, misinformation, and antisemitic tropes.
At SHIELD, our mission is to ensure Jewish students and families are never left to navigate this alone. We provide tools, resources, and support to help you advocate for accuracy and fairness in your child’s education.
Why This Matters
The 7th-grade curriculum devotes nearly two months to Southwest Asia and the Middle East, including Israel, Zionism, and ongoing regional conflicts. These lessons are among the highest risk areas for bias and distortion. If something feels off in your child’s classroom—whether it’s a worksheet, an assignment, or a classroom discussion—it’s important to take action.
Report Problems Using the New ADL Tool
At the end of July, the ADL launched a national reporting tool for tracking bias in curriculum and instruction. SHIELD has created step-by-step instructions to help parents fill it out. Every report matters—your input helps build a nationwide picture of what’s happening in schools.
Families who experienced problems last year but didn’t report them yet—it’s not too late. You can submit those incidents now.
How SHIELD Can Help You
Quick Action Center: Guidance on what to do if something feels wrong in class, including how to document, escalate, and seek support.
Antisemitism Detection Checklist: A screening tool based on the IHRA definition to help you determine if classroom content crosses the line.
Parent Guide to Open Records: Instructions and sample language for requesting lesson plans, slides, or other materials from your school.
Georgia Standards Watch List: A grade-by-grade guide to the standards where Jewish history, Israel, or the Middle East appear. Use this to anticipate when issues may come up in class.
You Are Not Alone
Remember: you are your child’s best advocate. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. SHIELD and our partner organizations are here to help you respond with confidence and clarity.
Together, we can make sure Jewish students in Georgia learn in classrooms that are accurate, safe, and fair.
