Connect with us

Oregon

Portland Public Schools bars teachers from ‘personal or political’ classroom displays amid anti-Israel clash

Published

on

Portland Public Schools bars teachers from ‘personal or political’ classroom displays amid anti-Israel clash


Portland Public Schools has adopted a new rule barring teachers from displaying their personal views on a “political or personal issue” in the classroom.

According to The Oregonian, the new guidance was “quietly” adopted under an administrative directive on August 24.

“Content on classroom walls, bulletin boards or otherwise displayed in the classroom must be related to the curriculum or district sponsored pursuant to [the district’s academic freedom policy],” the rule says. “Those spaces cannot be used for an employee’s personal expression whether that is related to a political or personal issue.”

Portland Public Schools told Fox News Digital that the new rule has been in the works for a year and “acts as a reminder to all of our student-centered mission and also reminds our staff to use District spaces for educational purposes.” 

Advertisement

“The AD is content neutral, and we believe supports the goal of remaining focused on creating a rich educational environment for students,” the statement said.

PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO FACTOR IN GENDER IDENTITY, RACE INTO SCHOOL DISCIPLINE: ‘COMPLETELY BACKWARDS’

“Personal expression by employees is not in furtherance of PPS’s academic purposes. Academic purposes, of course, will vary depending on the course content. Displays should be focused on student’s needs and tethered to the curriculum, not on the personal views of the teacher,” the statement continued.

The spokesperson confirmed that the new guidance does not bar teachers from displaying pro-LGBTQ or pro-Black Lives materials in the classroom.

“The rainbow flag and BLM poster are district-approved symbols of inclusion to often marginalized students. Posters advocating for specific positions on political positions are not student centered in that they are not rooted in our educational mission or curriculum,” they said to Fox News Digital. 

Advertisement

PORTLAND TEACHERS UNION PUBLISHES GUIDEBOOK ON ‘ORGANIZING FOR PALESTINE’ IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The new guidance comes months after teachers’ unions clashed with district leaders over whether teachers had the right to engage in pro-Palestinian activism in the classroom.

Oregon Educators for Palestine, in association with the Portland Association of Teachers “PAT,” released a guide titled “Know Your Rights! Teaching & Organizing for Palestine Within Portland Public Schools,” allegedly in response to teachers being censored and facing “discrimination and harassment” at “the hands of PPS District leadership.”

The handbook alleges that teachers were censored for their pro-Palestinian activism in schools, which included assigning students work “on the topics of Settler Colonialism and Zionism.”

Portland Public Schools responded to these accusations in June, saying in a statement, “It is our expectation that staff create these spaces by facilitating respectful, age-appropriate, and standards-based learning and contextualization of major world events such as the ongoing Israel-Hamas war or, before that, the war in Ukraine.”

Advertisement

“When these expectations of staff are not met – such as when a teacher engages in political advocacy while working – our process is to talk with the teacher about our expectations and direct corrections, removal, or replacement of inappropriate content,” the statement to Fox News Digital continued.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

According to The Oregonian, the new policy restricting teachers from displaying their personal views on political issues has already been put into practice. 

Administrators at Grant High removed a “Stop the Genocide” poster from a social studies teachers’ doorway earlier this month. 

The school’s principal reportedly said in an email the poster violated the “PPS policy regarding political speech.”

Advertisement

The Portland Association of Teachers has filed a grievance with the district over the new rule.

The union alleges the guidance conflicts with “contractual language on academic freedom, which allows teachers to introduce controversial topics that are relevant to their courses, and PAT’s right to post union related materials in schools,” according to The Oregonian.

Fox News’ Joshua Q. Nelson contributed to this report.

.





Source link

Advertisement

Oregon

Oregon health officials warn of measles exposure at Happy Valley clinic

Published

on

Oregon health officials warn of measles exposure at Happy Valley clinic


Health officials have identified a new measles exposure site in Happy Valley.

The Oregon Health Authority and Clackamas County public health officials said people may have been exposed at Providence Immediate Care – Happy Valley, 16180 S.E. Sunnyside Road, Suite 102, between 11:05 a.m. and 3:47 p.m. Tuesday, May 12.

Officials said anyone who was at the clinic during that time should notify a health care provider about the possible exposure. Providers can determine whether a person is immune to measles by reviewing vaccination records, age or laboratory evidence of a previous infection.

Health officials urged people to monitor for symptoms and seek medical advice if they believe they may have been exposed.

Advertisement

ABOUT MEASLES

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours and can infect up to 90% of unprotected close contacts. Complications can include pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.

Nationwide, measles cases have been rising since early 2025. Nearly 2,300 cases were reported last year, with most occurring among unvaccinated children.

Symptoms typically begin seven to 21 days after exposure and include cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis accompanied by a high fever. A rash usually follows, starting on the head or neck and spreading downward. People are contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after.

A graphic from the Oregon Health Authority shows the symptoms of Measles.

HA advises health care providers to report suspected cases immediately and consider post-exposure treatment for exposed patients. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can be given within 72 hours of exposure. Immunoglobulin may be administered within six days.

Advertisement

For most people 6 months and older who are eligible for vaccination, receiving the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure is recommended.

Anyone not protected against measles is at risk, according to OHA. The agency encourages residents to check their vaccination status and contact a health care provider with questions.



Source link

Continue Reading

Oregon

Oregon man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head

Published

on

Oregon man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head


Oregon police have arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting of a father who drove himself to a hospital after being struck in the head by a bullet after shots rang out while he was pulling out of In-N-Out drive-thru with his wife and two young sons.

Ethan Adrian Armenta-Lagunas, 20, and Gabriel “Alex” Javier, 18, both of Salem, were taken into custody Wednesday.

They face charges of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, criminal mischief, and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the Feb. 9 shooting of Marcio Garcia.

Multiple guns were allegedly found at Armenta-Lagunas’ apartment, the Keizer Police Department said. Javier was arrested later in the day.

Advertisement
Marco Garcia, left, drove himself to a hospital after being shot at an In-N-Out drive-thru in Oregon. Gofundme
A bullet lodged in Garcia’s head as he drove with his wife and two children in the car. Gofundme

Authorities are still searching for a third suspect, 22-year-old Anthony Taylor-Manriquez, who is considered armed and dangerous.

Garcia, 28, was in a car with his wife and two children, ages 2 and 7, when shots rang out near the burger chain.

The gunfire shattered the car windows and struck Garcia in the head; his wife and children were uninjured, police said.

“In the middle of chaos and fear, while he was injured and in pain, he somehow found the strength to drive us out of the scene to safety,” his wife wrote in an online fundraiser.

The gunfire shattered the Garcia family’s car windows as shots rang out near the burger chain. Gofundme
Ethan Adrian Armenta-Lagunas was arrested along with Gabriel “Alex” Javier while police hunt a third suspect. Keizer Police Department

“He protected our family before thinking of himself. That is the kind of man and father he is.”

Advertisement

Images posted online showed the bullet that was removed from Garcia’s head during surgery in February, according to his wife.

She also noted that Garcia did not suffer major brain damage and is currently recovering at home.

“The doctors told us what we already believe — this is nothing short of a miracle,” she said. “Now he faces a long road of rest, healing, and recovery.”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Oregon

PeaceHealth says Oregon CEO Jim McGovern out, Heather Wall to continue as interim leader

Published

on

PeaceHealth says Oregon CEO Jim McGovern out, Heather Wall to continue as interim leader


PeaceHealth announced Thursday that Dr. Jim McGovern is no longer serving as chief executive for the organization’s Oregon region, effective immediately.

Following a period of administrative leave, we determined that a leadership change was in the best interest of the organization,” said Sarah Ness, PeaceHealth president and CEO.

Heather Wall will continue in her established interim leadership role to ensure continuity, stability and uninterrupted operations across the Oregon region while PeaceHealth recruits for the chief executive role in Oregon.

Comment with Bubbles

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Advertisement

“Together, as we shape our future, PeaceHealth leaders are entrusted to consistently bring our Mission and Values to life by creating environments where caregivers and partners feel seen, heard, supported and inspired to do their best work,” Ness said. “We remain focused on delivering high-quality, compassionate care and supporting our caregivers as we move forward together.”



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending