Freedom to Learn Day of Action | NEA – National Education Association

On May 3, NEA members, parents, and allies stood together across the country to defend and protect truth in education during the Freedom to Learn National Day of Action, an initiative of the National Womens Studies Association, in partnership with theAfrican American Policy Forum and several other organizations.

Instead of cultivating belonging, critical thinking, and funding public schools, some politicians across the country are banning books, censoring curricula, and passing state laws that limit classroom lessons on race and gender. The effects are damaging. Teachers, principals, administrators have lost their jobs; lives have been threatened, and students freedom to learn, be themselves, and pursue their dreams have been compromised.

We cannot, and we will not, allow politicians to grasp and hold on to power by fueling fear and division, and limiting our students' access and opportunity to an honest and accurate and complete education, said NEA President Becky Pringle, in April, during an NEA webinar on the "power of truth," adding that attacks on educators and their unions are driving teachers and education support staff out of the profession.

It is our shared responsibility to ensure that every student, every educator, and every school is excelling, she says.

Politicians in at least 44 states have introduced legislation or pursued other measures that would require educators to overlook or deny the role of racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, and other forms of oppression throughout U.S. history. These laws and restrictions have been imposed in at least 18 states, according to research from the Zinn Education Project.

In Oklahoma, for example, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law restricting topics that could make a student feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex, among seven other banned concepts.

[The law] is so vague, said Kristi Williams, founder of Black History Saturdays, in Tulsa, Okla., in early May. Educators are afraid to teach any aspect of Black history because they don't know what's going get them in trouble.

In response to these laws, educators, students, and community allies took part in collective actions in more than two dozen states across the country to show their support for the freedom to learn and demonstrate that the public supports equity in schools, campuses, and the workplace.

Actions included reading banned books, book-ban giveaways, teach-ins, social media blitzes, rallies, and more.

Three years ago, NEA and the Zinn Education Project launched the first national day of action to teach the truth, and another one is on the horizon: Teach Truth Day on June 10, when educators pledge to teach truthfully about U.S. history, defend LGBTQ+ rights, andspeak out against anti-history education bills, banned books, and more.

The day of action is sponsored by the Zinn Education Project and coordinated with Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change.

NEA leaders firmly and unequivocally support these actions and urge the union's 3-million members to organize, participate, and engage to help raise awareness about the danger of these attacks on public education.

In Georgia, for example, people will meet at Stone Mountain Park for a truth-telling walk to discuss the areas connection to White supremacy and listen to a read-aloud of the book That Flag" by Tameka Fryer Brown and Nikkolas Smith. In Kansas, people will gather at Quindaro, a neighborhood located north of Kansas City that was once a stop along the Underground Railroad. This event is co-sponsored by various groups, including the National Education Association-Kansas City.

To participate, visit NEA'sFreedom to Learn and Teach Truth Day of Actionevent pageto help plan actions in your city.

Large swaths of the U.S. already have plans in place, which you can find here:

Go here to see the original:

Freedom to Learn Day of Action | NEA - National Education Association