I will stand up, I will speak up for students: Sign the pledge

Our schools should be havens. But right now, many of our students are scared, anxious, and feeling threatened. At NEA, we are hearing from students and educators all around the country who are encountering hostile environments in their schools and communities, with fake deportation notices being handed out and swastikas drawn in bathrooms.

We are being flooded with reports of hateful words, actions, and images directed at students in our schools. Nooses. Racist graffiti. Threats to our LGBTQ students. Headscarves being torn off. Girls being assaulted. Children are hearing that they are not welcome in their schools and even in the country they call home.

My heart is breaking. There is no place for this anywhere, let alone in our schools.

Educators, parents, and community members all know that this isn’t about politics, but simply that every student deserves a safe, welcoming, affirming learning environment. In fact, research shows that learning is stunted when the most basic need to feel safe and respected is not met.

We’d hope that along with the three million members of the NEA, voices across the educational community will join to say: you are safe with me.

SUPPORT SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR EVERY STUDENT.

And that we all pledge, post, and retweet messages that say:

I will stand up for students, and I will speak up in support of educators creating safe and affirming learning environments. I will take action so that EVERY student feels welcome and safe at school.