Nysmith Private School for the Gifted in northern Virginia—considered one of the state's most prestigious institutions—recently expelled three Jewish siblings after they endured months of severe antisemitic harassment by fellow students in the wake of Hamas’ deadly October 7, 2023, terror attack. According to a formal complaint, one class even described Adolf Hitler as a “strong historical leader.”
The Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law filed the complaint on behalf of the children's parents, Brian Vasquez and Ashok Roy, against the school and its head, Kenneth Nysmith. The private academy serves students from preschool through eighth grade and is located roughly an hour outside Washington, D.C.
The couple’s 11-year-old daughter was reportedly subjected to a brutal social ostracism campaign led by a group of popular students, solely because she is Jewish. Her two brothers also faced repeated bullying and harassment throughout the past academic year.
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According to the complaint, classmates mocked the daughter over the death of her uncle, despite the fact that he had died years earlier and had no connection to the events of October 7. One student allegedly told her, “We’re glad he died in a terror attack.” In other incidents, Jewish students were called “baby killers,” told they “deserve to die for what’s happening in Gaza,” and were subjected to statements such as “everyone at school is against Jews and Israel, that’s why we hate you.”
The New York Post reports that the complaint also includes a drawing by a student of a figure with a Hitler-style mustache pointing a gun. Rather than condemning the behavior, head of school Kenneth Nysmith reportedly dismissed the parents’ concerns and told them their daughter needed to “toughen up.” Two days after that conversation, he sent the family an email informing them that all three children were being expelled immediately, despite their strong academic performance.
In his email, Nysmith wrote: “A healthy partnership is required to help guide and nurture young children through turbulent times and complex events. I do not see a path forward without trust, understanding, and cooperation. In our meeting, it became clear to me that you no longer believe Nysmith is the right school for your family.”