Educators in Oakland have held a teach-in that they say fills in the gaps of current curriculum and gives a broader perspective regarding Palestine, despite the district’s superintendent objecting.
Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell wrote in a letter to the community on Monday last week that the lesson plans are not in line with current guidelines.
“I want to make clear that the district does not authorize this action,” the letter read. “Furthermore, I want to make clear that the instructional materials developed and shared by the teach-in organizers are not aligned with the materials and guidance previously provided by our Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Sondra Aguilera.”
Johnson-Trammell also referred to materials related to the teach-in as “divisive” and “harmful.”
OUSD officials did not respond Wednesday to requests for further comment on the teach-in.
Judy Greenspan, a substitute teacher with the district, felt that the teach-in helps offer a diverse lesson plan and combat what they see as erasure of lessons related to Palestine.
“There is little or no information in the OUSD curriculum about Palestine and the struggle of the Palestinian people for their freedom from occupation,” Greenspan said. “The OUSD curriculum is not unbiased, instead leaning heavily on Israeli developed curricula. Two out of the 3 lessons have links to Israeli lobbying groups that have biased goals.”
“While I was not directly teaching today, I have heard from teachers that their students were very involved in the teach-in and that they asked very thoughtful questions. I did not hear any negative feedback from teachers or students,” Greenspan added.
Balancing the ‘one-sided’ narrative
Educators said it answered the call by OUSD administration to teach students about the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
The lesson plan included lessons from PBS as well as material from OUSD’s behavioral health department. Other listed sources for the lesson plans came from The Zinn Education Project, UNICEF, the Abolitionist Teaching Network, Teaching While Muslim, Teach Palestine, Teaching Tolerance, and more.
The teach-in also received support from the Council on American-Islamic Relation’s San Francisco Bay Area chapter (CAIR-SFBA).
“The attempt to chill academic freedom is concerning,” said Zahra Billoo, the executive director of CAIR-SFBA. “We stand with the educators who are committed to presenting multiple perspectives — including the Palestinian perspective, which is far too often ignored — to foster critical thinking among students. Exposing students to diverse viewpoints can enhance their understanding of complex issues and help balance a narrative that has for far too long been one-sided.”
We stand with the educators who are committed to presenting multiple perspectives — including the Palestinian perspective, which is far too often ignored — to foster critical thinking among students. Exposing students to diverse viewpoints can enhance their understanding of complex issues and help balance a narrative that has for far too long been one-sided.
Zahra Billoo, executive director of CAIR-SFBA
The teach-in was criticized by Jeremy Russell of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
“The curriculum associated with today’s teach-in is offensive and inflammatory,” Russell said. “The fact that Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell sent a clear message that the materials were not appropriate was reassuring, but there remains legitimate fear that the result of today’s actions will be the further incitement of antisemitism or even harassment and violence against Jews and Israelis.”
“The organizers and participants of this teach-in strongly condemn antisemitism — past and present — and reject the notion that teaching about Palestinian liberation is inherently antisemitic,” a press release by proponents of the teach-in said. “In fact, it attempts to remedy the lack of diverse viewpoints in the curriculum issued by OUSD on this topic.”