We, the undersigned educators, stand in full solidarity with the Native/Indigenous and Black communities that are demanding that the “Life of Washington” murals at George Washington High School in San Francisco be painted over.

These murals are located on unceded Raymatush Ohlone territory. Because we understand the importance of reparations and restorative justice, we must listen to Indigenous voices and take action according to their demands. Any discussion about keeping the murals is disrespectful of the call for repairing harm and healing.

The mural contains stereotypical, inaccurate images. These images are demeaning to the Indigenous and Black students who attend George Washington High School daily. They are harmful to all students because they reinforce false narratives that Indigenous people are violent, uncivilized savages who no longer exist due to westward expansion.

The mural is located in a school, not a museum. While artistic expression and the preservation of art has its place in the community, publicly displayed and sanctioned art has a responsibility to honor and respect those most impacted. As educators who teach from a stance of social justice, history and its horrors are important to us. For Black, Indigenous and Teachers of Color, the teaching of our histories of oppression is emotional. It can be traumatic for both teachers and students. It is critical that students and staff feel safe at a school site, as these are the best conditions for teaching and learning.

When we study this history, we approach it with rigor and serious intent, while allowing space for emotional responses and dignified ‘outs’ for students. Our practices might include checking in with our African-American students about what they might need to be able to stay present during a unit on slavery in a class that has few African-American students; or offering students time for short reflection check-ins with trusted friends in the space. With a conscientious facilitator, we can face the pain of our histories in ways that still allow for student dignity and choice. A mural in a hallway does not allow for this kind of adaptation. As educators, it is important to seek to make space for students to engage with their own histories in a manner that honors their cultural legacy and empowers them to create positive change.

As educators, we can neither advocate forcing students to view provocative art nor graphic historical images for the sake of preserving the artist’s intent or making kids ‘deal with’ history in a decontextualized image like a mural. Our classrooms must be places that provide spaces in which students can raise those questions themselves and come to their own conclusions with the benefit of an educator who is committed to the rigor of exploring the purposes of art and the trauma of history while centering the experiences of their students.

For the reasons stated above, we, the undersigned educators, firmly believe that the “Life of Washington” murals must be painted over.

(Educators in all roles are encouraged to sign this open letter. Signatures may take a day to update.)

*This statement is based on the statement that was published by Teachers 4 Social Justice (T4SJ) on medium.com. http://bit.ly/t4sj_low_statement T4SJ is a grassroots Bay Area non-profit organization that was founded in 1999 by a group of San Francisco public school teachers. T4SJ organizes a network of over 4,000 educators and works to support social justice teaching and learning through public events, mobilizations and sharing resources. T4SJ strives to provide programs and projects that develop empowering learning environments, more equitable access to resources and power, and realizing a just and caring culture in our communities and schools. Email: educators4paintingdown@gmail.com

**As a point of information, the murals are frescoes, and are painted into structural walls of the school. They cannot be moved to a separate site.

(Responses to Name, Role & Educational Institution/School Site will be made public. Email address will be kept private.)

Signers:


Linda Christensen, Editor, Rethinking Schools; Director, Oregon Writing Project, Rethinking Schools/Lewis & Clark College
Debbie Reese, Activist Scholar, American Indians in Children's Literature
Maya Gonzalez, publisher author activist educator, School of the Free Mind
Curtis Acosta, Assistant Professor, University of Arizona
Zetta Elliott, Author/Educator
Rick Ayers, Associate Professor, School of Education, University of San Francisco
Thomas Reddy, English & History Teacher, George Washington High School
Sarah Frances, Speech-Language Pathologist, George Washington High School
Heathers Clements, Faculty (and GWHS alumni), Chabot College
Karen Zapata, Teacher, Berkeley High School
Tara Ramos, Teacher Librarian, Sanchez Elementary
Maureen Sullivan, Librarian, Dolores Huerta ES
Winnie Porter, Retired Teacher, SFUSD
Sarah Brant, Teacher/Teaching Coach, SFUSD
Emerita Bustos, Teacher, Duarte High School
Annarose Fink, Teacher, West Portal ES
Karina Hwang, Teacher, Leonard Flynn ES
Amber Lancaster, Teacher, Wallenberg High School
Ana Brazaityte, Artist and continued education teacher, Scintillant Studio
Chela Delgado, Teacher, CCPA
Becky Rogers, NBCT, Teacher, Claire Lilienthal Alternative K-8 School
Megan, Teacher, Woodside Learning Center
Liz Murray, Doctoral candidate, University of San Francisco
Chalida Anusasananan, Teacher Librarian, Everett Middle School
Max Mirales, Teacher, Cleveland Elementary
Monica Leavitt, Substitute teacher, SFUSD
Kristin-Vogel-Campbell, Program Specialist, San Mateo Foster City School District
Helena Young, PTA President, Dolores Huerta ES
Rachel Palmer, Teacher, Winnebago Public Schools
Nadine Sanchez, Principal, Livingston Elementary
Lorie Barber, Teacher, Lisle Elementary School
Beverly Slapin, Founder and publisher, De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children
Martha Brockenbrough , Professor, author, Vermont College of Fine Arts
Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Valeria Brown, Professional Learning Facilitator, Non-profit organization
aMy anderson, Ojibwe/Ahkaamaymowin Mètis parent at this high school; educator for 20+ years, SFUSD
Swati Avasthi, Professor, Hamline University
Carole Lindstrom, Children’s book author
Cristina Rhodes, Professor, Shippensburg University
Amanda Holt, Teacher, IMS
Karen (Kelly) Love, Teacher, Auburn
Kelly Hurst, Social justice antiracism facilitator, Being Black at School
Shelby Strong, Teacher, Orleans Parish
Pernille Ripp, Teacher, Oregon, WI
Laurie Weckesser, Teacher, ESUHSD
Shannon Hernandez, Teacher, Mill Creek MS, Kent WA
Sharon Clarke, Teacher, Kent School District
Sarah Shear, Social Studies and Multicultural Education, UW Bothell
Andrea Rogers, Teacher, Fort Worth Independent School District
Brandee Marckmann, Member, School Site Council, Sutro Elementary School
Nadine Loza, Teacher Librarian, Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Meredith Steiner, SFUSD Parent
Christie Nold, Teacher, FHTMS
Cassy Lee, Teacher Librarian, Chinese American International School
Elisa Gall, Youth Librarian
Sara Plummer, Educator, Rutgers
Kim Rogers, Children’s book author
Farima Pour-Khorshid, Professor, Teacher Supervisor and Education Consultant, University of San Francisco
Kristia Castrillo, Teacher, Balboa High School, SFUSD
Christine Sleeter, Professor Emerita, California State University Monterey Bay
Ruchi Rangnath, Assistant Professor, University of San Francisco
Jean Mendoza, Asst. Professor of Education, retired
Awo Okaikor Aryee-Price, Doctoral Candidate, Rutgers Graduate School of Education
Avery Pickford, Teacher, Lick-Wilmerding High School
Caroline Varner, Teacher, SFUSD
Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University
Vanya Morales, Teacher, Bryant Elementary School
Marisa Varalli, Teacher, Balboa
Peter Rodrigues, Teacher, Berkeley High School
Kelly Ng, SFUSD Parent, Chinese Immersion School at De Avila
Daniel James Burt, Art Instructor, Academy of Art University
Deirdre Elmansoumi, Teacher Librarian, Malcolm X Academy
Traci Sorell, Children’s Book Author
Alma Sanchez, Art Teacher, Broadway High School
Damon Posy, Mcateer
Marjorie Romero, Teacher, Mill Creek Middle School
Patrick Camangian, Department Chair, Teacher Education Department, University of San Francisco
Jr Arimboanga, Ethnic Studies Educator, Cesar Chavez HS Stockton California
Susan Katz, Professor, University of San Francisco
Alvin Rosales, Instructional Reform Facilitator, June Jordan School for Equity, SFUSD
Talía Leibovitz, Graduate Student, UC Berkeley
Sofia Vanderlaan, College student, University of California, Santa Cruz
Arianna Vargas, Advisor, San Francisco state university
Tina Bui, Teacher, ASP
Nicole Hsu, Teacher, Thurgood Marshall High School
Alma Galapon, Teacher, EGUSD
Tristan Arnold, Teacher, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
Janet Damon, Librarian, Denver Public Schools
Thomas Crisp, Associate Professor, Georgia State University
Kaitlin Popielarz, PhD Candidate, PT Faculty, College of Education, Wayne State University
Stephanie Logan, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Springfield College
Laurel Davis-Delano, Professor of Sociology, Springfield College
Alexandria Gibb, Teacher, Pleasant Valley Middle School
Jill Hermann-Wilmarth, Professor, Western Michigan University
Wendy Menard, Teacher, NYC Department of Education
Christina Soontornvat, Children's book author
Julia Schroeder, Teacher, Donwood Elementary School, Canada
Sydney Goldman, Teacher, St. Andrew's School RI
Stephanie Schaudel, Teacher, Berkeley High School
Rebecca Perkins , Teacher, Carroll elementary
Julie Coghlan, Teacher, Ruth Asawa SF School of the Arts
Rachel Reinhard, Teacher Educator, UC Berkeley
Lisa Duque, Teacher, Live Oak School
Leah Aguilera, Teacher, Sequoia Elementary OUSD
Elizabeth Humphries, History Specialist, Oakland Unified School District
Seed Minkin, Garden Teacher, AP Giannini Middle School
Corina Martinez, Behavior Specialist, Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center
Michael Dandrea, Associate Professor, Springfield College
Colin Schatz, Assistant Adjunct Professor, Mills College
Nhi Truong, Teacher, MetWest
Bruna Lee, Teacher, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
Caitlin Miller, Nurse Midwife
René Ly, Teacher, SFUSD/Aptos Middle School
Philip Wu, School Counselor, Abraham Lincoln High School (San Francisco, CA)
Margaret Reilly, Teacher , Visitation
Amelia Bjorklund, Teacher, Balboa High School, SFUSD
Rosalie Reyes, Coordinator of Teacher Engagement and Professional Development, Teaching for Change
Noah Borrero, Professor
Kali Lucas, College Student, UC Santa Cruz
Heather Schilling, Professor, Manchester University/Indiana
Lisa Smulyan, Professor, Swarthmore College
Hulita Fusitua, Teacher, Balboa High School
Izzy Hendry, Teacher, Paul Revere Pk-8
Nikhil Laud, SFUSD Ethnic Studies Co-Coordinator, SFUSD
Dana Clutter, Teacher
Jessie Fernandez , Community Worker, Communities United for Health and Justice
Will Dunford, Assistant Principal, Civic Center Secondary School
Karen Rocha, Teacher , MLK Middle School, SFUSD
Leila Vega, Work-Based Learning Systems Specialist, SFUSD
Connie So, Teacher, Abraham Lincoln High School
Terycka Garcia, Teacher, SFUSD
Katia Fuentes, School Counselor, SFUSD
Faith Palileo, School Site Intern, Balboa High School
Lauren Porosoff, Education Author & Consultant, EMPOWER Forwards
Kate Marcouiller, Teacher, James Denman MS, SFUSD
Tricia Ebarvia, Teacher
Sasha Ivanovic, Teacher, Civic Center Secondary School
Farr Quinn, Teacher, Jefferson-Houston
Jennifer Moless, Teacher, SFUSD
Erica Pulley, Lecturer, San Francisco State University
Gabriela Lopez, Teacher/Commissioner, SFUSD
Emma Fuentes, Professor, University of San Francisco
Gretchen Brion-Meisels, Faculty, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Linda Lewin, Retired teacher, SFUSD
Cynthia Eagleton, Teacher, San Mateo Adult School
Jennifer Tilson, Teacher
Alicia Jacobs, Teacher, SFUSD / MLK Middle School
Christine Stanton, Associate Professor, Montana State University
Sam Bloom, Librarian, Cincinnati, Ohio
Rebecca Uhrenholt, Teacher, Oceana High school
Arienne Adamčíková, Spanish Teacher, San Francisco parent, Capuchino High School, San Bruno, CA
Chad Gaver, Teacher, Hoover Middle School
Sarah Tomastik, Activist, Year Up
Allyson Ritger, Writing Instructor, Academy of Art University
Sonny Wong, Principal, SFUSD
Andy Libson, Teacher, Mission High School
Auliyah Gipson, After School Educator, YMCA
Becca Rozo, Teacher, CCPA
Andrea McEvoy Spero, Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco
Rotem Peñaloza-Bluvstein, Teacher, San Mateo High School
Jah-Yee Woo, Teacher on Special Assignment, Oakland Tech
Meghan Zarnetske, Teacher, Park city school district
Sabrina Belara, Classroom Teacher, Balboa HS
Nicole Ramirez, School Counselor
Angelina Johnson, Teacher
Veronica Schanoes, Associate Professor, Queens College - CUNY
Julia Schorr-Sherer, Teacher , Sanchez ES
Mariposa Villaluna, Educator
Yasmir Navas, Teacher, Sanchez Elementary
Eunice Nuval, Teacher, Aptos Middle School
Roxana Marachi, Associate Professor, San José State University
Charmaine Shuford, Teacher, Downtown High School
Kevin Odle, Principal, San Francisco Community School
Whitney Dwyer, Teacher, MetWest High School
Juan López, Teacher, Lowell High School
Tess Henderson, Teacher Librarian, SFUSD
Jennifer Banaszek, Teacher, Thurgood Marshall Academic High School
Ho Nguyen, Mathematics Program Administrator, SFUSD
Jamilah Campbell, Educator, OUSD
Anne Prendergast, Teacher, Westinghouse College Prep
Maggie Sullivan, Teacher, Wallenberg HS
Asra Ziauddin, Teacher, Jefferson High School
Carrie Goldberg, Teacher, Guadalupe Elementary, SFUSD
Noam Szoke, Teacher and parent, SFUSD
Anna Gomez, Teacher, Ravenwood
KE Hones, Librarian, Civic Center Secondary
Logan Crawford, Special Education Teacher, SFUSD
Wade Hudson, Publisher/writer
Jacqueline Daugherty, Professor, Miami University
Erin Miller, Professor, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Nora Siggins, Teacher, Tenderloin Community
Sara Mireles, Special Education Content Specialist, Sped Central SFUSD
Susan Faircloth, Professor, Colorado State University
Christian Hosam, Graduate Student, UC Berkeley
semya hakim, associate professor, st. cloud state university
Debra Avery, Pastor, Justice House, Oakland
Lindsay Stallones Marshall, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Olvia Angulo, Teacher Candidate, USF School of Education
Alerie Flandez, College Counselor, former teacher, SJSU
Chris Holland, Adjunct Instructor, Bakersfield College
Edward Ventura, Teacher, Omaha
Terra Caldwell, Teacher, Arroyo High School
Casey Carmody, Speech therapist, SCCOE
Nina Oeberg , Teaching Assistant and Peer Tutor, TRiO Upward Bound, Daytona State College
Judith B. Williams, Teacher, Rockingham County High School
Michelle Cottrell-Williams, Teacher, 2018 Virginia Teacher of the Year
Leah Sugarman Rodríguez, Teacher
Deborah Menkart, Organization administrator, Teaching for Change
Justine Larbalestier, Author
Lauren Sidle, Teacher Librarian, SFUSD
Eugene Owens, Adult Services Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library
MG Gainer, Teacher, Calhoun High School
Jarys Maragopoulos, Teacher (middle/high), San Mateo Union High School District
Gail Bloom, Associate Librarian, Cincinnati, OH
Todd Berman, non-profit arts educator, SFUSD
Scott Koebel, School Counselor, Newark High School
Deborah Lopez, Teacher, Valley high school
Erin Griggs, B.A, M.A., Eng; M.Ed
elizabeth rubenstein, arts integration specialist, arts ed matters & alameda cty office of ed
Karla S. Leon Guerrero, Teacher and parent, SFUSD
Matthew McDonell, Teacher Librarian, Mission High School, SFUSD
Carlos Alejo, Teacher, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
Nora Siggins, Teacher, Tenderloin Community
Kaija Tircuit-Peitso, History Teacher, Abraham Lincoln HS
Shauntrice Martin, CEO, Lnee R+D
Chris Newell, Director of Education, Akomawt Educational Initiative
Lynne Kennedy Mullen, Principal, St. Elizabeth Elementary School
Bill Ivey, teacher, Stoneleigh-Burnham
Lauren Daus, Educator, June Jordan School for Equity
Jamie Merida, Teacher
Marianna Singwi-Ferrono, Teacher
Amy-Elizabeth Manlapas, History Teacher, The Paideia School
Ursula Wolfe-Rocca, Teacher, Lake Oswego High School, Editor, Rethinking Schools
Jessica Bowden, Student Teacher, Boston College
Yolanda Wilcox González , Department Chair, Teacher, Beaver Country Day School
Meg Helmes, Teacher, Lecturer, Williamsville CSD / SUNY Buffalo State College
Ande Pena, Director of Reentry Services, CSUEB
Dawn Finley, Teacher, Riverview Gardens High School
Amber Taylor, Education Specialist, Lighthouse Charter Schools
Alex Bromwell, Teacher, Balboa
Linda Le, Former Teacher, currently Events Coordinator, Maker Ed
Tilda Kapuya, Teacher / Director of Equity and Community, San Francisco University High School
Mary Garripoli, SpEd Teacher, retired/Glenoaks Elementary/GUSD
Reena Valvani, kindergarten bilingual teacher, Jefferson Elementary
Natalie Estrada, Teacher, Anaheim Union High School District
David Shorter, Professor, UCLA
Rose Sabo, Teacher, PGHS
Sherry Skipper-Spurgeon, Teacher, SAUSD/MacArthur FIS
Mark Kohan, Professor, University of Connecticut
Juliet Dana, Teacher, Class Dean, Marin Academy
Ana benderas, Teacher. UC Berkeley
Miriam Medow
Lauren Adams ,Music/Theater Teacher, The People's Conservatory
Jeremiah Jeffries, Teacher, Redding ES (SFUSD)
Catherine Nicastro, Teacher
Amina Sheikh
Laura M. Furlan, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Tasha Pasternack, Teacher, Balboa High School, SFUSD
Chloe Badger-Harp, Student, Student Teacher , USFCA
Kylee Gonzalez, Graduate Student & Teacher, USFCA
Amber Yada, SFUSD parent, after school educator, college student
Artnelson Concordia, Educator, SFUSD
Julia Torres, ELA Teacher Librarian, Denver Public Schools
Alex Robins, Social Studies Teacher, Terra Linda High School
Adriana Soza, Student, San Jose State University
Cari Cymanski, 3rd Grade Class, Sanchez Elementary
José-Luis Tekun Mejia, SFUSD Parent, Coleman Advocates For Children & Youth
Martha Brown, School Librarian, Westwood High School
Michael Przybylek, Teacher, Impact Prep
Brian Lozenski, Assistant Professor, Macalester College
Monette Benitez, Assistant Principal, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
Edith Campbell, Associate Librarian, Indiana State University
Julian Byrns, Teacher, Abraham Lincoln High School
Pilar, Retired educator, grandmother, MissionHS, Latin American Teachers Association
Oscar Calderon, Program Manager at Project WHAT!, UC Santa Cruz
Melissa Wheeler, Paraprofessional, Sanchez elementary
Kari Bohlen, Teacher
David Stovall, Educator, University of Illinois at Chicago
Mario Balcita, Youth Development Professional, SFUSD Alumni, Guardian of recent HS Graduate
Kathryn Wilson, Teacher
Debby Dahl Edwardson, Trustee, Ilisagvik College
Heather Woodward, Teacher, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts
Jessica Nuila, Teacher, SFUSD
Kathy Menchaca Isbister, Teacher Librarian, SFUSD
Rachel Cloues, Teacher-Librarian, Roosevelt Middle School, SFUSD
Dakota Long, Teacher, Cove School
Ashley Garber, Paraeducator, Sanchez Elementary
Marna Wolak, Teacher, Sanchez ES
Melanie Habel, Art Teacher, Sanchez Elementary, VAPA, SFUSD
Elizabeth Hubbard, Teacher Coach, SFUSD
Denisha Jones, Director Art of Teaching, Sarah Lawrence College
Erika Chavarria, Teacher, Howard County Public School System
elliot helman, sign language interpreter, various schools & community settings
Rayven Wray, teacher, Sanchez
Tricia Sarmiento, Teacher, Roses In Concrete Community School
Hannah Nguyen, Teacher, ARISE High School
Julia Jackson, Teacher, Castillero Middle School, SJUSD
Leslie Hu, Community School Coordinator, Executive Board Member-UESF, SFUSD/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. MS
Cecilia Ponce, Bilingual teacher, Dolores Huerta ES
Kyle Halle-Erby, Former Teacher, SF International High School
Jeff Jorge, Math Teacher, SFUSD - James Denman Middle School
Christina Benson, 5th Grade Teacher, President, National City Elementary Teachers Association
Anna Gearon, Para, Sanchez
Olivia Udovic, Teacher Manzanita SEED
Deloras Lane Mock, English Teacher (retired), Miami Sunset Senior High
Lauren Christensen, Teacher, Sanchez
Kelsey Magaña, Teacher, Redding Elementary
Angelina Romano, School socual worker, School Health Programs
Meryn Gruhn Di Tullio, Teacher, Wild Oak Education
Adee Horn, teacher, SFUSD
Andrea James, SSW, Sanchez E.S.
Saeeda Hafiz, Wellness Policy Project Manager, School Health Programs
Fakhra Shah, Teacher, Mission High School
Grace Dickinson, Teacher, Aptos Middle School
Dennis Ochoa, Educator, Gunn H.S
Isabel Gil-Garcia, History teacher, Making Waves Academy
Crystal Alvarado, Teacher, SFUSD
Diane Carlson, Professor, Folsom Lake College
Hector Pineda, Teacher, MLK MS
Michael Essien, Principal, MLK Middle School
Brandon Yacobellis, Teacher Librarian, Francisco Middle School
PQ Cheng, Teacher, Hoover
Allie Jane Bruce, Blogger and Activist, ReadingWhileWhite.com