New research shows widespread antisemitism in Australian schools

Researchers extrapolate from the survey that there could be 75,000 incidents a year of antisemitism in government schools alone.

A study of 510 teachers and teacher managers in Australian public schools has found nearly a quarter have either experienced, witnessed or been informed of an antisemitic incident.

Of those surveyed, 20% said they had been informed of an incident, 12% said they had witnessed one, and 1% said they had been a victim of antisemitism. Answers to the three questions were not mutually exclusive and 24% answered yes to at least one question.

The researchers say extrapolating from the national representative sample suggests an average of 75,000 antisemitic incidents per year in government schools across the country. They focused on government schools for pragmatic reasons but noted there was evidence of similar cases in independent schools.

The Antisemitism in Australian schools study was conducted in November, in the wake of the October 7 attack and the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, although it was designed prior to the attack. It was commissioned by the Blueprint Institute, a Liberal Party-aligned think tank.

The researchers used the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, including cases where “legitimate criticism of Israel morphs into irrational hatred of Jews” and noted a key issue prompting antisemitism was the conflation of the political with the personal.

They blamed the school environment for some aspects of antisemitism, observing apathy towards antisemitism amongst some members of the teaching workforce and poor pedagogical approaches to teaching the Holocaust.

They also blamed the influence of social media in spreading and normalising antisemitic content and, in some cases, cultural influences from home.

The researchers recommended:

The most prevalent form of antisemitism reported included the use of Nazi symbols, or otherwise invoked Nazi Germany or the Holocaust. A significant proportion of incidents were of a less overt form, including the use of antisemitic jibes specifically in the playground or other social setting, and the use of antisemitic stereotypes.

Incidents were more common in secondary schools than primary schools, and boys were the most common offenders.

The researchers noted the prevalence of antisemitism was of concern for all Australians.

“A rise in antisemitism — or indeed the vilification or dehumanisation of any minority group — have been shown to be leading indicators of democratic backsliding, and deteriorating levels of social cohesion. These are issues of critical importance to all Australians, regardless of race, background, or religion,” said the report.

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