San Francisco lesson plan refers to Trump as racist, sexist

Amy Hollyfield Image
ByAmy Hollyfield KGO logo
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
San Francisco lesson plan refers to Trump as sexist, racist
President-elect Donald Trump has polarized the country and now San Francisco schools are presenting a lesson plan with anti-Trump sentiments.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco public school teachers are being provided with a lesson plan that refers to President-elect Donald Trump as sexist and a racist.

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It's part of a newsletter from a teachers union that's now coming to light.

The school district told the San Francisco Examiner that this is an optional resource. It was put out by the teachers union, the United Educators of San Francisco.

"Let us please not sidestep the fact that a racist and sexiest man has become the president of our country by pandering to a huge racist and sexist base," the union said in a statement.

The author of the lesson plan calls Trump a racist and sexist man and says teachers have a role to play to help students make sense of the new reality.

The lesson plan includes holding a discussion with students with one open mic. During the discussion, the teacher is told to offer hope and empowerment, tell them we do not have to go anywhere - not to Canada or back to anyplace we came from - and do not tell them we lost and have to accept this.

The lesson also includes some articles, books and a Michael Moore documentary.

It's unknown how many classrooms actually followed these suggestions or lead these discussions.

The plan was written by a teacher at Mission High School and was given to all San Francisco high school principals. The author writes that teachers have a role to play to help students make sense of the new reality with President-elect Trump.

He says, "Let us please not sidestep the fact that a racist and sexist man has become president of our country by pandering to a huge racist and sexist base."

We asked parents at Mission High School about the plan.

"He's done racist and sexist things," said Aj Holdman, a parent. "So if they want to let them know about what he's done that's racist and sexist, should be okay."

The lesson plan calls for one open mic during the discussion. The teacher is told to offer hope and empowerment and to tell students, "We do not have to go anywhere, not to Canada or back to any place we came from, and do not tell them we lost and have to accept this."

Some appreciate this message while others are ready to move on.

"I like it, I really do," said Tina Leonar, another parent in the district. "It is empowering the kids. I voted for the kids to vote at 16-years-old because it's their future and I believe in their future."

RELATED: SF students march through streets to protest Donald Trump

"I think they should stay away," said parent Mario Aguillar. "It happened. Nothing we can do about it"

The district does not know how many teachers have chosen to use the plan in their classrooms.

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