#Letters to the Editor — May 25, 2021

The Issue: A Brooklyn principal who sent an e-mail asking teachers and parents to support Palestinians.

Where does MS 136 Principal Amanda Bueno come off urging parents and staff to support the Palestinians in the recent conflict (“Middle school intifada,” May 22)?

As a retired teacher of 33 years in the field of social studies, I am utterly disgusted with what she has said.

We don’t have enough anti-Semitism in this country? She just adds to it and proves she is a poor role model for students and ignorant of history. Imagine being a Jewish teacher in the school.

I don’t want to hear that she just received a reprimand or has been ordered to go for sensitive training. These are merely cop-outs and an attempt to sweep this under the rug. Our mayor must have her removed immediately.

Ed Greenspan

Brooklyn

The Brooklyn principal who urged teachers to denounce Israel should be fired. She exercised poor judgment and seemed to be full of self-importance.

While she’s entitled to her personal opinions, they should be kept out of school, especially considering her position.

Jerry Chiappetta

Monticello

Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter is asking for an apology from Principal Bueno (“Pro-Palestinian principal rapped,” May 23).

It seems to me that this is a case of out-and-out harassment: Someone in a position of power asking that her underlings take action on something that probably goes against the grain of many of the teachers involved.

There is an implicit threat here, namely, if you oppose this, you may get a bad review or lose your job.

Any apology coming from someone that made such a strong statement would not be sincere. Bueno has no place in the city school system.

Bill Isler

Floral Park

Principal Bueno should be ashamed of herself for urging her staffers to demand sanctions against Israel.

This is nothing but teaching more hate toward the Jewish people. There’s enough hate in the world today. We don’t need any more.

This type of talk and hate does not belong in our school system. The Department of Education should do what’s right and let her go.

Our schools should not be used for expressing political positions, like Bueno did. We don’t need people like Bueno, who should know better, in our school system.

Rob Johann

Queens

Bueno’s e-mail evidences her ignorance of facts and history regarding the land of Israel and the Jewish people, which stretches back thousands of years, and more recently to the Balfour Declaration of 1917.

She exhibits her bigotry against Israel and the Jewish people by stating: “The time is now to take a stand for those impacted by state sanctioned violence and crimes against humanity,” while blithely ignoring the fact that Hamas is firing rockets, indiscriminately, at Israeli cities and their civilian populations.

Despite her clear lack of knowledge and understanding, Bueno has reached a position of authority over teachers and students and has now urged her staff to take actions in support of “Palestinian liberation.”

Why has this person not been fired yet? Is it OK for her to only get a slap on the wrist for pushing her own twisted agenda?

Dov Klein

Lawrence

Most likely knowing very little about the current crisis in the Middle East and certainly not knowing the line over which educators must not go, Bueno shows an ill-informed disrespect for our nation’s ally, Israel, and for her teachers.

The Palestinian people have never been shown respect by their leaders, who instead continually reject peace agreements and send bombs to hurt ordinary Israelis.

Hundreds of bombs fell short and landed inside Gaza, hurting and killing Palestinians.

Bueno chose to promote the righteousness of the Palestinian cause anyway. This shows poor judgment.

Dianne Stillman

Brooklyn

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