Tensions rise in response to teachers’ pro-Palestine resource guide as Oregon school year ends
Some see the “Know Your Rights!” guide as a much-needed tool for local educators. Others see it as hurtful or crossing a political line.
The group Oregon Educators for Palestine last month published “Know Your Rights!” a guide to teaching and organizing for Palestine in Portland Public Schools. Since then, there’s been a heated mix of responses, with some arguing the guide is a much-needed tool and o... moreTensions rise in response to teachers’ pro-Palestine resource guide as Oregon school year ends
Some see the “Know Your Rights!” guide as a much-needed tool for local educators. Others see it as hurtful or crossing a political line.
The group Oregon Educators for Palestine last month published “Know Your Rights!” a guide to teaching and organizing for Palestine in Portland Public Schools. Since then, there’s been a heated mix of responses, with some arguing the guide is a much-needed tool and others arguing it’s biased and harmful.
The document was made in collaboration with the Portland Association of Teachers, which represents thousands of educators in Oregon’s largest school district, serving about 44,000 students. PAT is the largest union in the district and is made up of classroom and special education teachers, coaches, counselors, speech-language pathologists and more.
Though Oregon Educators for Palestine is Portland-focused, they wrote in the guide that the information can be used by workers other than teachers and in schools across the state.
The document includes terms and definitions important to conversations about the ongoing violence in Gaza and how it’s affecting local communities. It lays out a range of guidance, including legal and contractual protections, state standards, and potential responses to censorship and complaints. It also has tips for organizing, such as how to best use social media, file public records requests and participate in protests.
