DOE bars wearing political buttons in school

In this week’s Principals’ Weekly, the Department of Education instructed principals that school staff are not allowed to wear buttons or apparel in support of a political candidate while in school or during school activities. It further argued that Chancellor’s Regulation D-130 “prohibits the distribution or posting of materials in support of a political candidate in a school building.” For as long as I have been at the UFT — first as counsel and then as president — teachers have been allowed to express their opinions as citizens, political and otherwise, on their lapels. That’s because teachers know how to balance their roles as educators and their roles as citizens to freely express themselves. Teachers understand they cannot proselytize their personal beliefs, and they also understand the importance of showing students the value of civic participation and responsibility. Today we sent a letter asking the Chancellor to reconsider his position, and hopefully we can reach an amicable solution that balances people’s obligations as teachers with their rights as citizens. If not, we will pursue the matter further.