In the wake of a Glenbrook South High School student’s quote in the school’s 2024 yearbook that led to outrage in Glenview and surrounding communities, all staff at Glenbrook High School District 225 will be required to undergo training on “bigotry, hatred, and discrimination based on nation of origin,” said District 225 Superintendent Charles Johns.
“We know we have seen examples of antisemitism and Islamophobia in our community in the past couple of years and we want to make sure all of our staff are equipped to notice it, to recognize the steps they need to take to confront it so we can all work to make sure it’s not present in Glenbrook and elsewhere,” Johns said during the district’s August 12 meeting.
He said the training will start on the first “Glenbrook Day” which is two days before the start of school. And also during the August 12 meeting board members were given a 16-page memo from Johns outlining other measures the District has already taken or will be taking in the future.
The furor started last spring after a student at Glenbrook South High School was quoted in the 2024 GBS “Etruscan” yearbook in response to a question by another student asking them what they thought of the war in Gaza.
“I saw what Palestine did, and I was happy because they’re finally defending themselves,” the student was quoted as replying. But later the student said their quote was taken out of context.
However, during an investigation done by the District it was determined the student quote included: “In my opinion, it isn’t a war, considering this has been going on for 75 years. The first day, I woke up and I saw what Palestine did, and I was happy because they’re finally defending themselves. The fact that the whole world only saw that instead of focusing on the past _ makes me sad because it’s my home country. It’s important [to speak up] because thousands of people are dying every day. Just be aware and educate yourself.”
Still, within days, the shorter quote and controversy it created, spread and created a firm backlash by some who said it was “antisemitic.”
In the 16-page memo to the board released during the August 12 meeting Johns said that following the conclusion of the investigation into the Glenbrook South yearbook program, the Board of Education directed the administration to address eight concerns that materialized during the investigation, including professional development for all “employees on understanding and sensitivity regarding hatred and bigotry.”
The memo also said that administrators in the District attended the “School Climate Summit on Anti-Semitism” sponsored by the Jewish United Fund.
“The summit provided an opportunity for school administrators across the Chicagoland area to learn how to create and maintain a supportive environment for Jewish students by exploring Jewish identity and improving our campus climate by combating antisemitism and understanding Jewish culture,” said the memo.
“We’ve already begun some training this summer but we have more to come,” Johns told the board. “The plan is certainly pretty robust at this point. It may grow over time as we see opportunities that we can provide some training and enlightenment in some areas that maybe we didn’t think about over the summer.”
Brenda Field, the GBS teacher and yearbook advisor who let the quote through to publication, apologized for the error but on July 8 the District said “the only reasonable outcome is to discipline Brenda Field, the yearbook advisor. The discipline to be imposed is substantial.”
Field was relieved of all duties relating to the publication of the yearbook and will not be paid the stipend for those duties nor teach any yearbook classes, according to the District 225 website. It also said she was suspended without pay for 30 workdays, her assignment for the remainder of her employment will not involve student instruction and will be determined by the Superintendent and Principal, and that she will be required to operate in strict conformity with Board policies, administrative rules and directives for the remainder of her employment.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
