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The Pajaro Valley Unified School District teachers union made it clear that they oppose changes in board policy regarding the teaching of controversial subjects. They invoked scare tactics usually confined to MAGA folks. They behave like this policy is radical and is a threat to democracy. In fact, several school districts in our county, including Santa Cruz City Schools, have a similar policy, and as far as I know, the sky has not fallen and the policy has not caused controversy.
Most of us know that the reason behind the union’s position is that they think teachers have the right to teach whatever they want, even what it departs from mandated curriculum. It is established law that K-12 teachers do not have the same freedoms as college professors. All the union officials have to do (as I did) is look on the National Education Association and read that “Employers may also restrict educators’ speech so that the school remains neutral on controversial topics, but such restrictions must be even-handed and may not silence only disfavored viewpoints.”
Should this be controversial? Don’t we want our teachers to be neutral on controversial issues and not indoctrinate young students to their own personal point of view?
PVUSD has in the curriculum in an art class a map of the Middle East that replaces Israel with the nation of Palestine. One might ask why is a map in the art class and why has Israel been erased from the map? This is an example of why such policies are needed.
Teachers have a captive audience. They should not be allowed to promote their own political views. That is not an attack on free speech. It is simply a demand that teachers do their job, teach and not preach.
Gil Stein
Aptos