Join our campaign to reOccupy Education.
Please read this statement from Portland teachers and sign our online petition.
To sign click HERE, or at end of petition.
Statement on Academic Freedom and Teachers’ Professional Judgment
We, the undersigned educators, are dismayed by the recent incident at Astor School where members of the Occupy Portland Panel, an educational branch of the Occupy Portland movement, were thrown out of a classroom of sixth and seventh graders after they began talking to students about U.S. foreign wars and house foreclosures. After a school employee interrupted the discussion, the Occupy Portland guests were told by the teacher that, “the school district is not comfortable with us having this conversation,” and then escorted out of the building. The decision to end the panel came from Astor Principal Karl Newsome. Portland Public Schools spokesman Matt Shelby is quoted in the Portland Mercury backing the principal’s decision citing a district procedure that calls for principals to sign off when outside groups are brought in and asserting that the teacher should have let parents know before inviting the Occupy Portland Panel to Astor.
We reject the idea that teachers would need to notify parents or obtain principal approval before bringing Occupy speakers to their classrooms. This is a violation of the professional discretion and academic freedom of teachers. Obviously, the permission of parents and the school principal is not always required when guest speakers come to class. So why in this instance? Can the school district cite any occasion when a principal required a teacher to notify parents prior to a presentation from a representative of a Portland area business, a government agency, or the U.S. military? Are parents notified when teachers use Junior Achievement curriculum materials, funded by large corporations like UPS, ExxonMobil, and Goldman Sachs? Is it school district policy that only individuals who are engaged in social justice activism are so profoundly controversial and threatening that their presence in schools requires parental permission? And what message does this send to students, when one group is singled out as so potentially problematic? As educators, we object to this attack on academic freedom and the discriminatory enforcement of school district policies.
We believe that too often the standardized curriculum teaches a particular point of view and that it is important for educators to bring in groups like Occupy to offer our students greater curricular balance. For example, the Contemporary Economics textbook, adopted by PPS, teaches that income inequality is caused by differences in household sizes, that the best predictor of poverty is whether family members are employed, that welfare tends to create cycles of poverty, and that military spending has been decreasing while “income redistribution” has vastly increased. The global studies adoption, Modern World History, includes a single “critical writing” activity in its treatment of the war in Iraq: “Imagine you are a speechwriter for President Bush. Write the introductory paragraph of a speech to coalition forces after their victory in Iraq.” The text includes no critical perspectives from groups or individuals opposed to U.S. involvement in Iraq.The district should not place restrictions on teachers’ efforts to offer their students a rich and varied — and socially relevant — curriculum.
Lastly, the school district must live up to its commitment to equity. When one-fifth of PPS students live in poverty, one third in David Douglas and Parkrose live in poverty, and 55 percent of all American children live in families that are near poverty, we should be encouraging all teachers to invite Occupy activists into their classroom to discuss issues of inequality and social justice.
To sign click HERE.
Signatures (as of 12-22-2011)
Name Location Date
Hyung Nam Portland, OR 12/15/2011
Dominic Le Fave Portland, OR 12/15/2011
Bill Bigelow Portland, OR 12/15/2011
Hayley Nasman Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Kris Alman Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Jennifer Schuberth Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Anthony Cody Oakland, CA 12/16/2011
Antonio Angel Barragan Glen Allen, VA 12/16/2011
Karie Mize Monmouth, OR 12/16/2011
Michael Charney North Kingsville, OH 12/16/2011
Kevin Donahoe Miamisburg, OH 12/16/2011
Deborah Menkart Washington, DC, DC 12/16/2011
Jon Spinac New York, NY 12/16/2011
Sara LaPlante Olympia, WA 12/16/2011
yirusha Isreal wheaton, MD 12/16/2011
Donna Mace Green Cove Springs, FL 12/16/2011
Benjamin Burson Gresham, OR 12/16/2011
Sandy Polishuk Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Christine White Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Nona Glazer Portland, OR 12/16/2011
liam Doherty Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Mark Nerys Brooklyn, NY 12/16/2011
Eric Gregory Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Frann Michel Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Michelle Newsum Coos Bay, OR 12/16/2011
Terry Anderson Portland, OR 12/16/2011
David Lifton Portland, OR 12/16/2011
chris peterson Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Devin Post Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Bob Peterson Milwaukee, WI 12/16/2011
Joshua Weiner Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Hugo du Coudray Portland, OR 12/16/2011
CJ Mitchell South Pasadena, CA 12/16/2011
Kurt Kessler Ashland, OR 12/16/2011
Josh Barstow Troutdale, OR 12/16/2011
E A Lake Oswego, OR 12/16/2011
Joel Morgan Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Laurie Sonnenfeld Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Rob Melton Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Alan Moore Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Forrest Loder Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Alon Raab Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Melissa Crenshaw Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Sarah Morrigan Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Sam Aley Coos Bay, OR 12/16/2011
Sonja Somerville Salem, OR 12/16/2011
Danielle Sanders Portland, OR 12/16/2011
laurie&dave king Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Amy Warren Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Chadderton Taggard Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Gail Pearlman Grants Pass, OR 12/16/2011
David Dugo Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Isaac Ellis Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Susan Barrett Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Joel Sjerven portland, OR 12/16/2011
Katrina Wilson Salem, OR 12/16/2011
Juliet Ballard Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Laura Guimond Portland, OR 12/16/2011
liberty straney portland, OR 12/16/2011
Kirk Caudle Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Doug Sherman Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Laura Lovett 97023, OR 12/16/2011
james m nordlund Fargo, ND 12/16/2011
Audrey Dentith San Antonio, TX 12/16/2011
Thelma Stone Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Amani Al-holail Carbondale, IL 12/16/2011
Harrison Delfin Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Jess Brooks Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Kevin Finney Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Clayton Morgareidge Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Roy Perez Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Tina Burdsall Vancouver, WA 12/16/2011
kim boylan portland, OR 12/16/2011
Gaetano DeLeonibus Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Joseph Carr Portland, OR 12/16/2011
chuck reinhart highland lakes, NJ 12/16/2011
mikeal slama cornelius, OR 12/16/2011
Deborah Norton Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Becky L Victoria, Canada 12/16/2011
George Bishop Ridgefield, WA 12/16/2011
bill resnick Portland, OR 12/16/2011
David Osborn Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Upgeya Pew Vancouver, WA 12/16/2011
Alejandra Favela Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Barbara Henson La Mesa, CA 12/16/2011
Theresa Fagin Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Lance Garland Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Christopher Z White Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Helen Clarke Portland, OR 12/16/2011
Patrick Pinkerton Monmouth, OR 12/16/2011
Jeffrey Evans Tucson, AZ 12/16/2011
Heather Macdonald Jacksonville, OR 12/16/2011
Tom Kane Hubbard, OR 12/17/2011
Laura Stirewalt Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Elizabeth Lehr Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Ryan Olson Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Karen Bishop Portland, OR 12/17/2011
b Hoppe portland, OR 12/17/2011
phyllis weih portland, OR 12/17/2011
angella davis Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Theodora Tsongas Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Natasha Beck Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Emily Crum Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Matthew Reeder Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Pam Hogeweide Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Rose Hogeweide Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Mary-Jane Freemont Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Adam Sanchez Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Tim King Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Danica Fierman Portland, OR 12/17/2011
John Gouvas Athens, Greece 12/17/2011
Kathi Boyd Chicago, IL 12/17/2011
S Perrault Davis, CA 12/17/2011
Kathy Garrett Portland, OR 12/17/2011
Mary Twombly Cook, WA 12/18/2011
Rebecca Anshell Song San Diego, CA 12/18/2011
Marsha Rakestraw Portland, OR 12/18/2011
Lise Jones Portland, OR 12/18/2011
Edward Laurson Denver, CO 12/18/2011
Nancy Mueller Milwaukee, WI 12/18/2011
Nad z nunyabizness, MO 12/18/2011
Aida Aranda FOREST GROVE, OR 12/18/2011
Scott Ritchie Atlanta, GA 12/18/2011
scott mahood portland, OR 12/18/2011
Paul Dean Portland, OR 12/18/2011
Andrea townsend Portland, OR 12/18/2011
Carol Miille Milwaukie, OR 12/18/2011
Malaina Guzman Portland, OR 12/18/2011
Adela Aguilar MONMOUTH, OR 12/18/2011
Rita Moore Portland, OR 12/18/2011
Daryl Caggiano Boston, MA 12/18/2011
Kym Cooke Portland, OR 12/18/2011
Lyra Butler-Denman Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Alex Stegner Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Courtney Von Drehle Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Laurie Mercier portland, OR 12/19/2011
Pat Muller Wilsonville, OR 12/19/2011
Swapna Mukhopadhyay Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Jeff Jansen Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Laura Seeton Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Tom Conry Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Cari Coe Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Mark Oldani Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Bruce Bennett Pacifica, CA 12/19/2011
Sandy GENTILOTTI CHADDS FORD, PA 12/19/2011
kelly balderson Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Martin Hart-Landsberg Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Julia Sanders Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Jean Eilers Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Sheila Golden Portland, OR 12/19/2011
Patricia Conway Portland, OR 12/19/2011
bethany dierickx Portland, OR 12/20/2011
Nathan Goldbaum Chicago, IL 12/20/2011
Alan Haggard San Diego, CA 12/20/2011
Cassie Sorensen Portland, OR 12/20/2011
Ryan Coons Edinboro, PA 12/20/2011
Anne Morin Portland, OR 12/20/2011
Eileen Wende Portland, OR 12/20/2011
Kelly Allen Portland, OR 12/20/2011
Heather Mayer Portland, OR 12/20/2011
blair adornato portland, OR 12/20/2011
illona trogub Buffalo Grove, IL 12/20/2011
Kelly Longley Portland, OR 12/21/2011
Concerned Citizen New City, NY 12/21/2011
Brady Bennon Portland, OR 12/21/2011
Leah Miller Portland, OR 12/21/2011
Amber Lane Corvallis, OR 12/21/2011
chevy pham bend, OR 12/21/2011
Kate McNulty Portland, OR 12/21/2011
Ken Rubin Seattle, WA 12/21/2011
Lianne Richland Lake Oswego, OR 12/21/2011
Sharon` Crocker San Jose, CA 12/21/2011
Ivan Evans La Jolla, CA 12/21/2011
ian golash seattle, WA 12/21/2011
JK Vickrey Coos Bay, OR 12/21/2011
Clemency Wings Albuquerque, NM 12/21/2011
Deb Greene Greensboro, NC 12/21/2011
Ann Veu Nakagawa Sacramento, CA 12/21/2011
Thomas Batley Santa Cruz, CA 12/21/2011
Michael Hureaux Seattle, WA 12/22/2011
Sandra Childs Portland, OR 12/22/2011
Hector Cordon Portland, OR 12/22/2011
Roberta Lindeman Seattle, WA 12/22/2011
J. Chambers Seattle, WA 12/22/2011
Ken Jones Westbrook, ME 12/22/2011
Tema Okun Chicago, IL 12/22/2011