Teachers: Now is NOT the Time to be Neutral
"There's no such thing as neutral education. Education either functions as an instrument to bring about conformity or freedom."
— Paolo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
School workers are feeling increased pressure to remain “politically neutral" in response to increasing ICE raids in our state. Superintendents and School Boards are issuing statements mandating non-action or reissuing old procedures in response to unprecedented federalized and state-sanctioned violence.
There is no such thing as “neutral” in these situations. Everything is political.
This is especially true for schools, which are government institutions, and are microcosms of our wider society.
The choice not to speak up about ICE is a choice to comply and support the current regime.
Teachers have always been at the forefront of justice struggles, hand-in-hand with students:
In 1920, a rural teacher fought for students' rights to learn in their first language. Remaining neutral means creating inequities for ourselves and our students.
In 1942, Norwegian teachers took non-violent action to resist teaching Nazi curriculum and joining the Nazi teachers union. Remaining neutral means teaching Nazi curriculum.
Educators involved in The Black Sash and Educators Against Racism and Apartheid actively fought to end and teach about South African Apartheid. Remaining neutral means supporting an apartheid regime.
In 2006, 70,000 students in Chile fought for public education demands including free buses and removing school fees, teachers unions supported the students. Remaining neutral means poor students not being able to access their education.
The National Coalition of Native American Language Schools & Programs organizes students, teachers, and families to support first language schools and programs. Remaining neutral means accepting the impacts of colonization.
In 2019, Act 1 passed due to the work of many including the Education Justice Coalition and the Vermont Equity Educators Collective. Remaining neutral means continuing to take part in a legacy of school-based racism.
The 2024 Vermont Teacher of the year, Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver, teaches a course called Challenging Systems of Oppression. Remaining neutral means teaching a white-washed curriculum that is careful not to question or challenge the status quo.
Take Action!
Urge your administrators to communicate clear action steps to protect immigrant students and employees: Sanctuary Schools Organizing Toolkit
Create and adopt a sanctuary school policy at your school/in your district: Winooski School District Sanctuary School Policy
Attend a rapid response training and sign up for alerts with Migrant Justice
Change happens collectively! Build relationships and join a group to take action: Vermont School Workers United, VT NEA, Education Justice Coalition of VT, Teach Out VT
This statement is a collaboration between Vermont School Workers United and the Education Justice Coalition of Vermont.
