Oregon Teachers Union Publishes Guidebook on Teaching Anti-Israel Views in Schools

A teachers union representing employees in Portland Public Schools has released a handbook offering guidance on teaching anti-Israel views in schools, sparking controversy and prompting a response from the district.

A teachers union representing employees in the Portland Public Schools (PPS) has ignited a firestorm by releasing a guidebook on how to teach anti-Israel views in schools. Titled "Know Your Rights! Teaching & Organizing for Palestine Within Portland Public Schools," the handbook was allegedly created in response to concerns from teachers facing censorship and discrimination for their pro-Palestine views.

The publication claims that teachers have been censored for "teaching about Palestine, posting pro-Palestine sentiments in schools, and even those wearing Pro-Palestine messages." Specific examples cited include the removal of student work on Settler Colonialism and Zionism and the threat of disciplinary action against staff members for wearing clothing with the phrase "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free."

The union argues that this so-called censorship violates district policies, such as the Civic Engagement and Unrest guidebook, which states that support for Black Lives Matter is not considered a "political statement." The union maintains that teaching about Palestine is similarly protected under Oregon's Ethnic Studies Standards.

The guidebook provides teachers with guidance on responding to students' questions about Palestine and their legal rights when facing pushback from administrators. It encourages teachers to "root their answers in facts" and to help students develop their own opinions while emphasizing that the conflict should be viewed as a political struggle for self-determination rather than a religious or ethnic feud.

Portland Public Schools has distanced itself from the guidebook, stating that it is not part of the district's curriculum. However, the district emphasizes its commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment in all schools and classrooms, including the facilitation of respectful and age-appropriate discussions on major world events such as the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Portland Association of Teachers, the union behind the guidebook, has not yet provided a comment.

The release of the guidebook has sparked a heated debate, with critics accusing the union of promoting political bias and undermining academic integrity. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the guidebook empowers teachers to address a topic that is often overlooked or misrepresented in schools.

The controversy surrounding the guidebook is likely to continue, highlighting the complex and often contentious nature of teaching about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in US schools.