A pro-Palestinian group, the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), previously criticized for downplaying Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, is set to provide training for teachers in Oakland, California.
The training, titled “Palestine in Our Classrooms: Teaching to the Moment — 75 Years of Resistance, Resilience, and Sumood,” aims to incorporate “Palestinian history, narratives, and culture into K-12 classrooms.”
Parents Defending Education, a parental rights group, shared a flyer revealing the training’s details. MECA’s ties to the Democratic Socialists of America and its response to the October attacks have raised concerns.
The training, scheduled for a Saturday, will cover various topics, including hearing “Palestinian and Arab Youth speak” on “the effects of invisibility and silencing,” teaching Palestine through the arts, adopting a “multiple perspectives framework for teaching Palestine,” and using stories designed for K-5 educators.
The event is planned from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at an undisclosed location in Oakland, with a $25 cost. Parents Defending Education has criticized the training, seeing it as an attempt to politicize classrooms.
Erika Sanzi, Director for Outreach at Parents Defending Education, expressed concern, stating that there is no valid reason for K-5 teachers to address such geopolitical issues with students. Sanzi views the training as a red flag, suggesting that Teach Palestine, the organization providing the training, aims to indoctrinate children during school hours. The Middle East Children’s Alliance organized a pro-Palestinian rally in San Francisco on October 8, the day after Hamas’ attacks, posting a message on social media expressing solidarity with Palestine and criticizing the U.S. government’s support for Israel.
