Jewish Portland teacher sues school district, board, teachers union over alleged anti-Israel bias

An Israeli-Jewish Portland teacher filed a lawsuit against his school district, school board and teachers union over alleged anti-Israel bias.

The teacher, identified as John Doe out of “fear for his physical safety,” according to the lawsuit filed Monday, complained about the hostile environment in his school but allegedly wasn't supported by the district or his union. 

He worked in one Portland high school during the 2023–2024 school year, then was transferred to another high school, after he made multiple requests, for the 2024-25 school year.

The lawsuit alleges that the school district and the teachers' union violated his First Amendment rights to freedom of association and religion.

Both the school district and the Portland Association of Teachers declined to comment, The Oregonian reported.

According to the lawsuit, in collaboration with Oregon Educators for Palestine, the Portland Association of Teachers allegedly co-published guides called “Teach Palestine!” and “Know Your Rights!” and held informational sessions for teachers to learn how to “teach and advocate for Palestine within Portland Public Schools,” at the union hall last May.

The lawsuit includes one of the union’s lesson plans for grades 1 through 5 that, in a children’s workbook, describes the history of the state of Israel as a “group of bullies called Zionists.”

The teacher is represented by the union despite not paying dues, and he wants to end the union's compelled representation of him.

The school is a “forum for one-sided, anti-Israel rhetoric,” the teacher's lawsuit said, as the administration allowed Palestinian flags and print-out maps of Palestine that eliminated Israel to be posted. However, when the teacher asked whether he could display an Israeli flag, he was told it would be “too disruptive,” according to the lawsuit.

“Plaintiff does not object to sharing a building or working closely with colleagues who disagree with his positions and beliefs as long as the environment is neutral, fair and safe, and allows for expression of his opinions and beliefs as well,” the teacher's attorney wrote in the lawsuit.

Complaints to the principal and the district’s human resources went nowhere.

The teacher removed a printout of a Palestinian flag that was on a wall in the school library and was reported by an employee for theft, leading to him being investigated, per the lawsuit. Nothing happened to the teacher as a result of the inquiry.

According to the lawsuit, the teacher suffered post-traumatic stress due to the treatment he underwent at work, eventually causing him to take medical leave.

The lawsuit requests the court to find that the alleged “non-neutral religious viewpoint“ and actions by the teachers union and district were unconstitutional. The teacher is also seeking an order that prevents both entities from engaging in such behavior and requests damages for mental and physical distress.