Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), delivered a keynote address to high school principals from Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) representing more than 200 schools, about the growing problem of anti-Semitism and online hate, and about the ADC’s groundbreaking anti-bias program Click Against Hate that is currently being taught in more than 110 schools across the state.
Dr. Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“I am honoured to have been invited to speak to this very important organisation, representing tens of thousands of students in Victoria, about creating safe, diverse and respectful learning environments that are free of anti-Semitism and bigotry. I explained that children as young as 10 need to be empowered with the skills to effectively respond to online anti-Semitism and bigotry since most are exposed to messages of hate when there are no adults present. Through Click Against Hate we provide students with strategies to confront and act against these threats when it happens to them or when they see it happening to others. The principals understood that students tend to verbalise and act out the racist views they absorbed online on real-world victims and that anti-Semitism was a growing problem in schools. I was thrilled that most of the principals in attendance expressed strong support and interest in our groundbreaking educational program.”