Jewish families in the Bay Area progressive enclave felt targeted by one of the Oakland teachers’ union and the district at large after educators held a ‘teach-in’ that focused on anti-Israel lessons. Parents Rebecca and Isaac told CBS News that they made the decision to move their six-year-old out of the school district after they saw examples of blatant anti-Semitism.
Daily Mail (h/t Nita) ‘There were lesson plans being taught that said, “Draw the Zionist bully’ or “I is for Intifada, J is for Jesus.”‘ Rebecca noted of the teaching materials featured in the ‘From Gaza to Oakland’ teach-in. ‘
Teachers told KTVU that the teach-in was not authorized by the official OEA, but a small group called ‘OEA for Palestine.’
Teachers in Oakland, California, held a pro-Palestinian “teach in,” on Wednesday, which asked elementary school-age children to draw what they think a Zionist leader looks like and define a massacre.
Among the recommended materials is a coloring book featuring a Palestinian character who says: ‘A group of bullies called Zionists wanted our land so they stole it by force and hurt many people.’ The book called Handala’s Return was used as part of the teaching material that detailed a cartoon character’s expulsion from Palestine in 1948.
The Oakland school district publicly opposed the event, with some critics demanding that teachers who participate face punishment.
‘I want to again make clear that our expectation is that all educators, in every classroom across the District, take seriously their responsibility to adhere to principles of education, and to keep their personal beliefs out of the classroom,’ said superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell.
FOX News OUSD teacher, Judy Greenspan, who served as an organizer for the teach-in, told Fox News Digital that OEA for Palestine “absolutely” plans to hold future events, adding that Superintendent Johnson-Trammell should change her position and “get on the right side of history.”
Throughout the curriculum, the material indicates that Israel is responsible for massacres and that Zionists are colonizing oppressors, citing “75+ years of Palestinian land theft.”
In addition, the learning materials don’t mention the Holocaust by name and instead declared that “During World War II, many Jewish people were killed and mistreated. The world wanted to make sure that never happened again. Unfortunately, the Zionists used it to justify displacing and killing Palestinians.”
The teach-in began with a video call that teachers who participated streamed from their classrooms, which included a speaker who discussed how, as a Jewish person, they rejected “Zionism’s attempt to say the only place and way Jewish people can be safe is through a militarized state,” the East Bay Times reported.
“To say that Oakland should teach Zionism is like saying, should Oakland teach racism?” Greenspan said. “Should we allow Klu Klux Klan members in our classroom because they have freedom of speech? As far as I’m concerned, Zionism is racism.”
The exodus of Jewish families from Oakland’s public schools was first reported by J Weekly. According to CBS News, more Jewish families have requested to transfer school districts but have been denied because of capacity restrictions.
In a statement to the outlet, the UOSD said: ‘OUSD is a sanctuary district, inside Oakland, a sanctuary city, inside California, a sanctuary state. Which means we support all students, families and staff, regardless of religion, heritage, ethnicity, where they came from, or how they got here.’
Organizers of the teach-in released a lengthy list of suggested curriculum materials for grade levels from pre-K through high school. The first lesson for Upper Elementary School students is titled: ‘Part A: Where is Palestine? What is Zionism?’ And Israel is an apartheid state.’
The curriculum left room for art lessons, films, and appreciation of the region’s music, food and poetry. But some wording has offended Jewish community members, such as the document’s reference to Israel an ‘apartheid state.
Pray Hard says
Good for them. Public schools are poison and dangerous.
Az gal says
I would transfer my child out of that district too, so should all Christians.
Bugsy278 says
It’s either propaganda at its finest, or its worst.
George Smith says
Well it looks like “we” was “wrong”. We needs to take a really good “look” at what we is doing. If we wants to survive?
Charlotte says
This is teaching kids to hate Jews. Parents should homeschool. If those who are refused places at other schools are stuck, then either move or get the parents together and organise homeschooling. Otherwise do it at the local synagogue and start a homeschooling hub there. Greenspan is a disgusting self hating Jew–a JINO