The National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers’ union in the U.S., has partnered with the Zinn Education Project (ZEP), a nonprofit named after radical historian Howard Zinn, to promote social justice-oriented curricula for young students. The materials, including anti-White content and lessons influenced by Howard Zinn’s ‘A People’s History of the United States,’ have raised concerns over their presentation of American history and ideological alignment.
The Zinn Education Project (ZEP), named after the late Howard Zinn, has registered over 176,000 teachers who have downloaded more than 765,000 lessons for their students, according to its website. ZEP hosts an annual Teach Truth Day of Action, which is cosponsored by the NEA and other organizations. The materials, which include lessons on the ‘genocide’ of Native Americans by early settlers, class struggle, and the ‘exploitation’ of workers, have sparked controversy over their framing of American history and potential ideological influence on students. Among the materials is an openly anti-White book recommended for third to fifth graders, which presents the Mexican American story as shaped by indigenous cultures rather than by colonization. Additionally, a seven-minute video on climate change narrated by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez promotes her ‘Green New Deal’ and universal healthcare. Critics have raised concerns that such curricula could push a far-left political agenda, with some arguing that these materials may not align with traditional historical narratives and may affect students’ understanding of American history. The ZEP and the NEA did not respond to a request for comment. The video features Ocasio-Cortez, who blasts oil companies, promotes the ‘Green New Deal,’ and warns of climate change consequences. The materials include testimonials from teachers who rely on ZEP resources for a critical interpretation of American history, highlighting the influence of social justice narratives in shaping students’ perspectives. The collaboration has drawn criticism over the ideological content of the lessons, with critics arguing that the materials may not provide a balanced view of historical events and could affect how students perceive American history and its values.