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San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F. school district to teachers: Your political opinions don't belong in the classroom
Days before the start of classes, San Francisco school leaders reminded teachers that they can't express political opinions during the school day, including in what they say, wear or what they put on their walls. District officials encouraged principals to reinforce those restrictions as educators and staff participated in back-to-school training this week. The guidance follows a divisive battle last school year over accusations of political activism among educators in city schools, particularly in ethnic studies courses. Controversial activities included teachers encouraging students to write letters to Mumia Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther sentenced to death in 1981 for murdering a Philadelphia police officer, or asking them to participate in anti-Israel protests. In other cases, teachers hung pro-Palestinian posters in classrooms, or described Israel as colonizers committing genocide. While the laws and policies are not new, they have been often ignored or absent from staff training sessions. District officials, last year, gave principals the materials to train staff on bias and personal opinions, but it was unclear how many used them. This year, one veteran teacher said it was the first such training in their career. 'Many teachers have been dangerously misled about their professional freedoms and responsibilities,' the educator said. 'K-12 teachers don't have the same academic freedoms as university instructors. Our students are minor children.' The district's teachers union, which has taken a pro-Palestinian stance and has advocated for teachers who wish to speak out about the war in Gaza, did not immediately return requests for comment about the training. In February, officials from the union wrote in a pro-Palestinian resolution that 'educators who utilized their democratic rights to speak out against the war were repressed or harassed by school authorities.' In recent years, Bay Area schools have seen an uptick in politically motivated instruction and the opinions of staff and educators publicly displayed. That has included student walkouts, bolstered by teachers and their unions, as well as posters and staff clothing reflecting beliefs, including candidates, government policies and the war in Gaza. Accusations of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of harassment in schools have grown specifically since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel in and the retaliatory bombing of Gaza, with hundreds of official complaints filed at the district, state and federal level. District officials said the most recent training was proactive and not punitive and aimed to help staff navigate complex and sensitive topics in a way that aligns with state law and school board policies. 'If parents or students see something they are concerned about they should contact their principal,' said district spokesperson Laura Dudnick. 'When concerns arise, we follow a clear process for reviewing them that is consistent with labor agreements and Board policy.' State education law requires an education free of harassment and bias and equal access to learning regardless of race, religion, national origin or other protected status. But that has been broadly interpreted across public schools in San Francisco and the Bay Area and, at times, rarely enforced. In the spring, San Francisco Superintendent Maria Su vowed to address the issue following community concerns raised specifically about ethnic studies courses and, more broadly, antisemitic content and harassment amid pro-Palestinian activism. 'Teaching should be about teaching students how to think,' not what to think,' she said in June. Su decided to suspend the district's homegrown ethnic studies curriculum, which critics said was divisive, antisemitic and promoted progressive activism. The board in July purchased an off-the-shelf replacement to be used for the year-long required ethnic studies course for ninth graders. In addition, Su is expected to issue an administrative order regarding the use of supplemental materials used by teachers to ensure they adhere to state and district guidelines. The training materials given to principals also notes that employees cannot solicit students or families to further their ideological persuasions or use district resources, including district email, to communicate or advocate for their political opinions. 'Students should be challenged in their coursework and schools should provide a safe and rigorous experience where they can express their thinking and listen to others,' said school board President Phil Kim. 'Our whole job here as educators is to create the conditions for all of that to take place. 'This is what I come back to: What is our responsibility as educators?' he said. 'It's not about us. It's about the kids.'
San Francisco Chronicle
16-05-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lowell sees dip in enrollment from S.F. private school students
Fewer private school students are sitting in the coveted seats at San Francisco's Lowell High School than years past, with district students taking 8 out of every 10 spots in the freshmen class, according to district data. It's a significant shift from just four years ago, when nearly a third of the 2020 ninth graders came from non-district middle schools. While enrollment numbers for the freshmen class of 2025 won't be available until this fall, the trend of a lower acceptance rate among non-district students and a decline in the percentage of those admitted students who enroll, indicate the pattern will likely continue. For this upcoming fall, the district admitted 58% of the 708 private and other non-districts eighth-grade students who applied to Lowell, compared to 74% of the 584 applicants in 2019. For the first time, all applicants this year were required to take the same test for admission to Lowell. In years past, district students took the state standardized test while those from outside the district took a separate test. District officials stressed they don't play favorites. The admission policy 'is consistent for all applicants regardless of whether they attend an SFUSD school,' said district spokesperson Laura Dudnick, in a statement. 'In recent years, we've expanded outreach to SFUSD middle school students — especially in historically underserved communities — to ensure there is broader access in applying to Lowell.' At the same time, fewer outside students who do get into Lowell are opting to go. In 2019, 31% of those admitted from non-district schools chose to enroll. Last year, 22% of those students opted to attend Lowell. For district eighth graders, admission rates have remained relatively stable, ranging from 36% in 2019 to 39% for this fall, with a recent high of 41% last year. Enrollment rates for SFUSD students, however, have increased, with 78% of those admitted choosing to attend Lowell compared to 69% in 2019. It's unclear what has caused the shift in favor of district students, although the past five years have been a bumpy ride for the district, with school sites closed for 18 months during the pandemic, a school board recall, a massive budget deficit, the ouster of the superintendent and mayoral intervention. The volatility has raised questions for some families about the future of the city's public schools and the quality of the education. Amid all that, the district paused the competitive admissions process at Lowell for the falls of 2021 and 2022 given the lack of standardized test scores and other issues. Instead, the district used a lottery. Supporters of the switch to the lottery said it would bring more Black and brown students to Lowell, which it did. But opponents said it would harm Asian American students by admitting fewer of them and lower academic standards at the school. After a lawsuit and pushback, the district reinstated the competitive admissions standards. Enrollment data from this school year shows very little change in Lowell's demographics before and after the lottery admissions, with white and Asian American students over-represented and Black and Hispanic students under-represented compared to their overall presence in the district. Still, it's clear that what hasn't changed is the overall demand for Lowell, an academically competitive public school with a long list of prestigious alumni. It is considered one of the top public high schools in the country, with most students admitted based on grades and an entry test. About a third of students must meet minimum requirements, but are also evaluated on an essay, family circumstances, hardships and where they went to middle school. Applications are up, with 2,322 eighth grade students overall vying for a spot this fall, up from 1,967 in 2019 — with both district and non-district applications up. This enrollment cycle, the district offered spots to 1,036 students, with the goal of a class of 650 freshmen this fall. Janine Okmin's eighth grade son, who attends a private school, was among the 1,036. He won't be one of the 650. 'He's opting to go to a different school,' Okmin said. Her son, who is a creative kid, opted for a smaller independent high school rather than the large competitive 'sometimes chaotic school environment' that is Lowell. Lowell probably wouldn't be a good fit for her son, she said. Her daughter is a junior at Lowell, admitted during the second lottery year. 'We've been very happy with Lowell for our daughter,' she said. 'She feels very, very proud to go there, very proud of SFUSD and public schools. She works her butt off.' She said it's 'bittersweet' that her son won't attend the school, because Lowell has been great for her daughter, but she also can understand some of the reticence that private school families have about attending Lowell. 'What's happening in the district is of concern for sure,' she said. Okmin said she's heard there aren't enough college counselors and the lights don't work in Lowell's theater because of budget issues. She said that many private school families that decided not to go to Lowell were worried about the future of the district and its finances, but at the same time, the data shows many of these students are still applying — just in case. 'For families who can pay for an independent school, Lowell feels like a really good backup plan,' she said.
