As an educator, whether you like it or not, you are held to higher standards within the community. What you do or don’t say as an educator can have implications on your livelihood, even if you’re not on the job when you speak up. This is especially important as culturally responsive and racially inclusive education increases to enrich the education experiences of all students.
Across Maine, educators are working to include more diversity, equity and inclusion training for staff to ensure students understand how to live and grow in a diverse world. Unfortunately, some are resistant to this change and continue to work against these efforts, including efforts to ban books. As an educator, it is important to know and understand your rights when it comes to what you can and can’t say to keep you protected according to the law.
WHY ARE THESE EFFORTS TO BAN BOOKS AND CREATE DISCORD BETWEEN EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES HAPPENING AND HOW SHOULD I RESPOND?
These measures are an attempt to undermine faith in public education and our state’s educators. Educators and their unions have defeated many of these measures by calling out this negative playbook looking to disrespect educator’s work and pivoting to the values of honesty, inclusion, and respect that so many of us hold in common.
Remember your central responsibility to students remains unchanged. While you are working with students in your classroom, your state standards and approved curriculum approaches govern, and you should continue to follow them. As an educator, you know best how to design age-appropriate lessons for students that will help them understand the past and prepare for the future.
IS MY SPEECH PROTECTED OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM? WHAT ACTIONS CAN I TAKE?
Remember that your speech and activism are most protected when you are speaking up as a citizen on a matter of public concern or in concert with other union members. That means that your speech is protected by the First Amendment when you are speaking up outside of work time and to your community or the general public about the importance of teaching certain concepts or in a certain manner (e.g., teaching by way of inquiry in order to engage students and prompt critical thinking).
Writing a letter to the editor, attending a rally off work time, posting on Facebook or tweeting about a public event or action, or speaking to the school board as a citizen about the importance of teaching these concepts are all examples of protected speech and activism.
CRITICAL REMINDER
Always remember that educators, particularly at the K-12 level, are held to higher standards that may make them vulnerable to discipline or firing even for off-duty activity. Pledging to or actually violating a law related to your work is a serious decision that could expose you to discipline. You should always discuss those risks with your local and state affiliate before signing such a pledge or agreeing to such an action so that you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.
