Philadelphia school district teacher controversy, pro-Palestinian messages in the classroom

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The Philadelphia school district faces a difficult decision over the fate of a teacher who some parents say was wrongly suspended.

At the heart of the controversy is the emotional subject of the war in Israel.

Some support the teacher they say spoke up and had students express their support for the Palestinian people. Others say she crossed a line.

It all came to a head Thursday evening at a school board meeting in Philadelphia, which was interrupted by protests and ultimately had to be moved to another room.

Parents caused disruption and demanded that Keziah Ridgeway, a teacher at Northeast High School, be reinstated.

“Three thousand and seven hundred students are missing a beloved teacher who supports all students,” said Jethro Heiko, a parent in the district and member of the newly formed organization Philly Parents for Palestine.

Ridgeway, a history and anthropology teacher, was removed from the classroom seven weeks ago. The parents who support her say this is because a complaint was filed after Ridgeway taught and allowed students to express opinions supporting Palestinian rights.

“We care about this district and what can be taught,” said Meaghan McDonald, who also works at Philly Parents for Palestine.

But an attorney for the group that filed the complaint against the teacher disagrees.

“It is incorrect to say that she was removed because of what she learned in class. That was not part of the complaint at all,” said Lori Lowenthal Marcus, legal director of The Deborah Project.

That organization, which was founded to defend the rights of Jewish people who face discrimination, filed a complaint against Ridgeway.

They say they filed the complaint with the School District of Philadelphia because Ridgeway posted messages referencing violence against certain Jewish parents whose names she allegedly posted on social media.

“An Instagram post that said, ‘It’s no fun if the rabbit is the…’ And the implication was a gun,” Marcus said of the post Ridgeway allegedly made. They also say she posted asking where she could find a black-owned gun shop.

Ridgeway’s supporters say she is the one facing threats. They form the group Philly Parents for Palestine and want her reinstated at Northeast High School, which supporters say has a large Palestinian student population.

“It’s not right, she’s worked hard to get where she is and she’s passionate about what she does,” said Ronita Jones, Ridgeway’s sister.

The group representing Jewish parents who say they feel threatened wants the district to stand firm.

“The school district’s demand that they enforce their own policies,” Marcus said.

The Philadelphia School District is now tasked with making a decision.

Ridgeway supporters tell Action News she is out of the classroom but continues to be paid while the investigation continues.

There is no timeline for when the district will make a final decision on how to resolve the issue.

Ridgeway declined to be interviewed.

Action News reached out to the Philadelphia School District but had not received a comment by the time this story aired.