Brave Classrooms: Confronting Bigotry and Hatred

This online mini-course is part of our Brave Classrooms Mini-Course series, designed to give educators the tools and support to help them discuss contemporary antisemitism in their middle and high school classroom settings. During this course we will take a closer look at specific contemporary manifestations of antisemitism and the impact it has on young people, our communities, and democracy today. This mini-course includes both self-guided work and live Zoom sessions. View the full schedule below.

Like other forms of race-based hatred, antisemitism is, in part, an ideology that can be weaponized to a variety of ends. It persists across the political spectrum, national borders, age, education levels, and other demographic markers. As Phyllis Goldstein wrote in A Convenient Hatred, "Like other hatred, antisemitism is almost always a current event—one that is triggered by the fears and anxieties of the moment." 

Educators will learn  to lead classroom discussions on the importance of recognizing and addressing the current forms of this “convenient” hatred. Among the topics we will explore together: the online presence of antisemitism; how antisemitism manifests across demographic and political discourse; the overlaps between anti-Zionism/anti-Israel sentiments and antisemitism; and student experiences with antisemitism. 

Key Mini-Course Questions

1. How am I impacted by the presence of antisemitism?
2. What does antisemitism look like in contemporary society?
3. How can we help our students respond to antisemitism when they encounter it?

Mini-Course Schedule

• Module 1:
  • Self-Guided Work (approx. 90 minutes): January 30–February 6
  • Live Session in Zoom (90 minutes): February 6, 7–8:30 p.m. ET  (see in your time zone)
    • Optional Office Hours (15 minutes) following the session
       
• Module 2:
  • Self-Guided Work (approx. 90 minutes): February 6–13
  • Live Session in Zoom (90 minutes): February 13, 7–8:30 p.m. ET  (see in your time zone)
    • Optional Office Hours (15 minutes) following the session

February Break/Enrichment Week: February  14 – 20 (no live session)

• Module 3:
  • Self-Guided Work (approx. 90 minutes): February 20–27
  • Live Session in Zoom (90 minutes): February 27, 7–8:30 p.m. ET  (see in your time zone)
    • Optional Office Hours (15 minutes) following the session
• Module 4:
  • Self-Guided Work (approx. 90 minutes): February 27–March 6
  • Live Session in Zoom (90 minutes): March 6, 7–8:30 p.m. ET (see in your time zone)
    • Optional Office Hours (15 minutes) following the session

Mini-Course At-a-Glance Details

Who should take this mini-course: 6th–12th grade world history, US history, humanities, and English language arts teachers, school leaders, and curriculum specialists. We invite educators from a variety of 6-12 school settings including public, private, independent, and religious schools to apply. This course is NOT open to Higher Ed professionals.

Cost: Free. The registration and event fees for this online offering have been waived thanks to generous funding from Facing History and Ourselves donors and partner organizations.

Duration: 4 weeks. There is a new module each week. Each module includes online self-guided work and a weekly synchronous session in Zoom.

Time commitment: Approximately between 2–3 hours each week for 4 weeks.

Pacing: Each week’s module will follow a similar structure: 

• Approximately 90-minutes of online self-guided work to complete in preparation for each week’s live session (with an additional 90-minutes during the first module for participants who did not complete Part I). 
• A 90-minute facilitated live session to include whole- and small-group activities.
• Optional extension activities to be completed anytime during the week.