Key Takeaways
In honor of an Idaho teacher who resigned after being “pushed” to remove an “Everyone Is Welcome” here poster in her classroom, the nation’s largest teachers union is offering special “toolkits” of the same name.
Sarah Inama left her West Ada School District middle school gig in the spring, according to Idaho Education News, but has since been hired by the Boise School District.
In a statement, Inama had written it was “extremely disturbing and embarrassing to see a district prioritize appeasing individuals with racist perspectives over celebrating the diversity and beauty of all our students.”
The National Education Association toolkits “inspired” by Inama were announced on the union’s Instagram page a little over a week ago.
“Every student deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported at school,” the announcement reads. “This new year, we recommit to welcoming our students with courage, joy, and classrooms free from bias or discrimination.
“These kits are a visible way for educators to affirm every student’s right to learn and thrive no matter what they look like, where they’re from, or how they identify.”
The kits were available to the first 1,000 members who signed up for one. They were created in partnership with the groups Advocates for Youth, Subject to Climate, and Planned Parenthood.
Most likely have heard of Planned Parenthood, but what about the other two?
Currently, the first six photos/posts at Advocates for Youth’s Instagram page are about condoms, “emergency contraception,” and sex education. There also are posts about “HIV/AIDS awareness” and “Trans Flag Day.”
The organization’s programs include “Abortion Access Initiatives,” “Act Out” (to deal with the “constant attacks on queer and trans youth at the state, local, and school board levels”), “Racial Justice in Sex Ed Youth Advisory Council,” and “Young Womxn of Color 4 Reproductive Justice Collective.”
The Subject to Climate Instagram logo reads “We value teachers. We inspire climate action. We believe in justice. We trust science. We love our planet.”
Its Instagram offers various teaching tips, along with recommendations for (climate) advocacy such as visiting the Oregon Climate Education Hub. That Hub’s Teaching Resources include “Talking to Children and Youth about Climate Grief,” “Engaging in Environmental Justice Research,” “Earth Day Party,” and “Writing About Eco/Climate Emotions and Concerns.”
As seen on its website, Subject to Climate also has a mascot named Captain Climate — an “ageless, genderless, and race-less” individual who “help[s] every student feel empowered to make a change and navigate climate resources.”
The NEA kit appears more overtly political than the posters hung by Ms. Inama in her classroom.
Inama’s posters showed “hands of different skin colors and a series of words highlighted in a rainbow of colors, including ‘welcome,’ ‘important,’ ‘valued’ and ‘equal.’”
CREDIT: The Today Show/X
West Ada School District policy “encourages staff to display the American flag in their classrooms,” but notes “other flags, banners, posters, signs or photos should be ‘content neutral and conducive to a positive learning environment.’”
The district had said in a statement that Inama’s situation “is not about limiting speech or expression but about ensuring consistency in our classrooms and maintaining a learning environment free from distraction.”
On the other hand, a student who participated in a walkout in support of Inama said “Kindness isn’t political and teachers shouldn’t be (reprimanded) … for trying to make their students feel safe and welcome at school.”
(h/t to Broad + Liberty)