(The Center Square) – Following the Oakland teachers union’ statement of solidarity with Palestine, condemnation of Israel, and promise by some to hold a pro-Palestine “teach-in” on Dec. 6, Oakland Unified’s superintendent has come out against the proposed action.
In a public letter, Superintendent Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell wrote the “District does not authorize this action” and that the teach-in materials “are not aligned with the materials and guidance previously provided by our Chief Academic Officer.”
The proposed teach-in, announced on Nov. 26 on social media, is set to include a book for transitional-kindergarten through third graders called ‘P is for Palestine.’ In this book, the letter “I is for Intifada, Intifada is Arabic for rising up for what is right, if you are a kid or a grownup!”
Intifada means “rebellion,” in Arabic, but is most commonly used to refer to the recent armed uprisings by Palestinians against Israel.
“The ‘teach-in’ planned for Oakland schools is replete with biased, anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda that will sow division in the schools and alienate the Jewish students, families, faculty and staff,” Marc Levine, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Central Pacific office, told The Center Square. “ADL applauds OUSD Superintendent Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell for her decisive and strong statement emphasizing that the unsanctioned indoctrination session framed as a ‘teach-in’ planned by ‘outside organizing’ in OUSD schools is unauthorized and not supported nor sponsored by the District.”
One week ago, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, drawing national attention. At the start of the current conflict between Gaza and Israel, the Oakland Education Association — the union representing Oakland Unified teachers — issued a statement supporting Palestine and condemning Israel as a “genocidal and apartheid state.”
