In a shocking development, the National Education Association (NEA), the United States’ largest teachers union, reportedly sent an email to its roughly 3 million members that included a map erasing Israel entirely and labeling it as Palestine. The email, which provided resources for teaching about indigenous peoples, also linked to material defending Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that left 1,200 dead and another 250 kidnapped, according to the North American Values Institute (NAVI) and reported by the Jewish News Syndicate.
Encouraging classroom use
The email encouraged teachers to share the linked sources in classrooms, raising alarm among observers who said the material crossed ethical boundaries for educational guidance. Steven Rosenberg, regional director at NAVI in Philadelphia, told the Jewish News Syndicate that the union’s action “reflects an organization that failed to meet its own standards of critical review and responsibility.”
Union response and blame
Following public scrutiny, the NEA removed the controversial material from its website but a “Native Land Digital” map still identifies Israel as “Palestine” and describes it as indigenous to the land. A spokesperson for the union told the New York Post that the content came from a third-party source and fell short of NEA standards. The spokesperson said the union conducted a review and removed the content immediately, adding that they “condemn in the strongest of terms the deeply offensive content” and are seeking resources that meet the union’s standards.
Calls for accountability
Despite the removal, critics say the NEA has not been transparent. Rosenberg called for a public explanation and a “sincere apology.” The Anti-Defamation League, which cut ties with the union earlier this summer, also criticized the NEA, highlighting that the map “erases Israel” and stressed that educators should be teaching facts, not rewriting history, New York Post The controversy coincided with a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, part of a peace agreement brokered by President Donald Trump.
The bigger question
The incident has sparked wider questions about accountability in educational content, especially when millions of teachers are provided resources that could influence classroom narratives. While the NEA blames external sources, the impact of the email and the continued presence of the map underline concerns over oversight and the responsibility of organizations entrusted with shaping young minds.
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