Terrorist Teachers

Dear fellow humans with whom I share the planet,

History will teach us many lessons if we let it.  It will show us the red flags and warning signs that indicate we are on a path towards danger and dark chapters. But if we fail to learn from past generations, ignore the signs or are so arrogant that we think we are so exceptional that it couldn’t happen to us, our children and grandchildren, will be asking, how could you let the past repeat itself?

Today it was announced to countless listeners that “1/3 of American Teachers are terrorists.”

No proof was offered, just inflammatory rhetoric, to make the crowd go “yeah!”   

The grandparents of our students were listening and heard the claim

The parents of our students were listening and heard the claim

Some of our students were listening and heard the claim

Many of them cheered.

We have seen what happens when influential figures use inflammatory, and accusatory rhetoric. Because there are no descriptors to distinguish  “terrorist teachers” from “non terrorist teachers” all teachers now have a target on them.  Well done Steve Bannon.  Well done to all who cheered.  You have undermined roughly 5 million everyday Americans, who dedicate their lives, sacrifice countless hours building lesson plans, correcting papers, providing feedback, planning school functions, not to mention taking on additional extra-curricular roles, so that children across America can have a shot at lifting themselves up to whatever it is they dream they can be.

The strategy behind labeling teachers as terrorist serves to portray teachers as “a threat”. It shifts the conversation about curriculum from policy to “warfare”. It creates a clear target for people to direct their anger at and gives people a villain to go after.  It delegitimize schools as an institution, making it easier to defund it so it will collapse.  Anyone who studies history knows where this story ends.  And anyone who’s been watching the news for the past few years knows how it ends for any group who is targeted with such language. And a reminder about political violence, a verifiable fact is that roughly 65% of the political violence that has occurred since 2020 has been committed by right wing actors, while only 25% has been committed by left wing actors

There are many people from both sides of the aisle, many who loved the man you mourn today, that are teachers.  They too now have a target on them.  There is no special mark they wear, no identifying feature that will distinguish them from the “terrorist teacher”. All are now a target.

To my fellow teachers, I stand with you in solidarity, for the sacrifices you make, the work you put in, the heart and soul you pour in to each child, the abuse you take and the blame and disrespect that is undeservedly placed on you.

And to those who call us terrorists, and to those who cheered when you heard those words,  I plead with you to be more rational, more compassionate, more thoughtful as to how you characterize or encourage others who mischaracterize your neighbors, friends, and family members who are teachers. And if harm befalls any teacher because of those words, I condemn you and blame you.  History taught you, and you failed to learn.