An elementary school in the San Francisco Bay area has been under the tutelage of an organization known as "Woke Kindergarten."
The organization's leader, Akiea Ki Gross, has expressed a desire for the dissolution of the United States and Israel, as per their social media posts.
Akiea Ki Gross, who prefers the pronouns they/them, is identified on the organization's website as an "abolitionist early educator, cultural organizer, and creator." They are currently exploring innovative ways to "resist, heal, liberate and create" through their pedagogical approach, Woke Kindergarten.
Gross expressed their views on the United States and settler colonies in a recent Instagram post. "I believe the United States has no right to exist. I believe every settler colony who has committed genocide against native peoples, against Indigenous people, has no right to exist," they stated. "Y'all the demons. Y'all are the villains. We've been trying to end y'all. Get free of y'all."
They also voiced their support for a free Palestine. "I believe in a free Palestine from the river to the sea," Gross continued.
The educational materials developed by Gross have been adopted by numerous schools. The Woke Kindergarten website describes the organization as committed to "abolitionist early education and pro-black and queer and trans liberation," providing support to children, families, educators, and organizations.
In a post from January, Gross reiterated their stance on America. "When I think about a world free of state violence I think about a world free of the U.S. empire. I think about a world free of Israel," they said.
Gross also advocates for the abolition of schools. "I think about land back to Indigenous peoples globally. I think about the fact that we would not have to participate in these systems, because none of these systems would exist. That means kids wouldn't have to go to school because the world would ultimately be their classroom," they explained.
They envision a world where children would learn from adults and vice versa, creating "ecosystems of community care" that would ensure everyone's needs are met. Gross also expressed belief in the existence of oppressed extraterrestrial beings.
Glassbrook Elementary in Hayward, California, allocated $250,000 in federal funds to Woke Kindergarten. These funds were provided by a program designed to improve test scores in some of the nation's lowest-performing schools, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. However, after two years with Woke Kindergarten, students' scores have reportedly declined.
According to the Chronicle, less than 12% of the students are reading at grade level, and fewer than 4% are proficient in math. This represents a 4% decrease in both subjects over the past two years.
Hayward Unified School District Superintendent Jason Reimann told the Chronicle that the decision to hire Woke Kindergarten was approved by the board and was primarily aimed at increasing attendance rather than improving test scores. He reported that attendance has risen by almost 20%.
"Helping students feel safe and whole is part and parcel of academic achievement. I get that its more money than we would have liked to have spent," he said. "We are in favor 100% of abolishing systems of oppression where they hold our students back. What I do believe is we should pick providers based on their work and how effective they are."
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