NYC public schools warn staff about political speech before student walkout over Israel-Hamas war

Schools Chancellor David Banks has warned teachers to keep their “personal political views” to themselves ahead of an expected student walkout on Thursday over the Israel-Hamas war.

Some educators criticized Banks’ letter on social media and in comments to Gothamist. They said the message, which cautioned educators against any political comments or activities that could distract from their jobs, was an “overreach” that limited their speech.

The tensions ahead of the walkout expected around noon are another example of how the war in Gaza has roiled public school and university classrooms throughout the city. A student walkout was also expected around 2 p.m. at Columbia University in Morningside Heights.

Madeline, a teacher in Brooklyn who is supportive of the students expected to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, was among those who said the chancellor’s letter went too far.

"It feels like a very thinly veiled threat, and it feels to be particularly targeting teachers who are active organizing for any sort of social justice change,” said Madeline, who did not want to use her full name given Banks’ warning to staff.

“It feels very nefarious. They could cherry pick when they want to punish teachers for expressing their views,” she said

Mike, a high school teacher in Brooklyn who also did not want to use his full name for fear of being reprimanded, said Banks’ letter “gives the go-ahead to principals to reprimand staff for speech made outside of work hours.”

The walkout was promoted by a group called Schools Out For #CeasefireNow, which is made up of a large coalition including progressive teacher groups and Palestinian student groups, according to a press release. Some public school students will head to Bryant Park for a rally around 3 p.m., the release said.

“We are walking out because we as a generation are tired of the injustice we see,” said Shanel, 17, a student at Manhattan Early College School of Advertising who did not want to use her last name for fear of harassment. “Walking out is us showing our government and the world that we want a cease-fire, innocent blood to stop being spilled.”

Gothamist observed students walk out of Beacon High School in Midtown. Dozens of public school students were also marching in Bay Ridge.

At Columbia, students walked out in solidarity with Palestinian students on campus. One man — it was unclear if he was a student — was taken into custody after hurling antiemetic insults. But the vast majority of demonstrators were peaceful.

Nearby, a group of Jewish students distributed photos of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

“The last month here has been incredibly tense and I would even use 'vicious' at times, on both sides,” Jesse Spear, 20, a Jewish student at Columbia said.

Leaders of Community Education Council 14, which reviews educational matters and consists of elected and appointed members, is also helping with organizing the walkout, according to the release.

Aya Abdelaziz, an adult organizer with the student advocacy group Ya-Ya Network – which often advocates for reduced police presence in schools – said students, parents and educators from 200 schools were expected to participate in the day of action.

In the letter sent on Wednesday, Banks emphasized that New York City public school employees are required to keep their political views “separate from” their jobs. While employees are allowed to express their views in their personal time and space, he said even speech or activities outside work must not cause “disruption” to their professional responsibilities.

“When speech and action, even on one’s personal time, undermines the mission or core functions of NYCPS, we will review and take appropriate action on a case-by-case basis,” he wrote. He pointed staff to a list of regulations.

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, urged the school system’s leadership to spend more time supporting teachers and students “and less time monitoring their social media accounts.”

“Attempting to restrict teachers’ and staff members’ political speech, especially speech that occurs outside the workplace, is often an overreach and can chill peaceful debate and discussion,” Lieberman said.

Karen Yi and Ramsey Khalifeh contributed reporting.

This article has been updated with information from the walkouts.