A group of Jewish educators is voicing concern over a large Palestinian flag that has been hanging in the hallway of a Brooklyn high school for several months, claiming the display violates Department of Education (DOE) rules on political neutrality.
The flag has been prominently displayed at Leaders High School, located in the Lafayette Educational Complex in Gravesend, since at least April, according to Moshe Spern, president of the United Jewish Teachers, a group representing around 250 members.
Spern said he first assumed the flag might have been part of a cultural or heritage event but became increasingly concerned as it remained in place into the new academic year. In recent emails to Principal Thomas Mullen, Spern noted that several members of the school community — including staff, students, and parents — had expressed discomfort with the flag’s continued presence.
“At this point, the fact that it still remains hanging seems more like a political statement,” Spern wrote in an email shared with The Post. “Jewish staff, parents, and students are very concerned that this is still hanging. My hope is that this flag is taken down, and neutrality in the conflict in the Middle East is the message at Leaders High School.”
Spern said his concerns, raised multiple times via email, have gone unanswered by the school administration. He argues the flag’s display may violate DOE policies that prohibit political messaging on school grounds.
“For five months, this flag has been a constant, political presence in this school’s hallways, and it’s impossible to ignore the message it’s sending to the school’s staff and children,” he said. “When we alerted school and district leadership to a clear violation of political neutrality regulations, they chose to ignore us. That’s simply unacceptable.”
He is now calling on both the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Department of Education to remind school leaders that all students and staff are entitled to an environment free from political pressure or intimidation.
Principal Mullen declined to comment on the matter. The DOE did not respond to requests for comment.