Across the United States, public schools are encouraging educators to use materials from a nonprofit that approaches American history through the lens of racial and sexual oppression.
The Zinn Educational Project (ZEP), named after the radical professor Howard Zinn, provides lesson plans and resources that have stirred controversy, catering to students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
ZEP claims that over 176,000 teachers have adopted their curriculum, which includes more than 765,000 downloadable resources for classrooms.
Each year, the organization holds an event called Truth in Action Day, alongside the NEA and other partners.
Howard Zinn, who passed away in 2010, taught at Boston University from the early 1960s until 1988. He authored “A People’s History of the United States,” a book that examines the country’s history from Columbus’s arrival to the present, emphasizing themes of oppression.
The lessons offered by ZEP are grounded in the principles of his book.
In 2003, Zinn identified himself as “something of an anarchist, something of a socialist. Probably a democratic socialist.”
Now, New York City Public Schools—the largest district in the nation—encourages the use of ZEP resources during Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Disability Pride Month, and Pride Month.
The Black History Resources page on their website mentions an initiative called “Teaching with Seizing Freedom,” which offers lesson ideas and podcasts for educators.
ZEP describes the podcast as a valuable tool to explore the various ways Black individuals have sought freedom throughout American history, highlighting voices often overlooked in traditional textbooks.
In connection with Disability Pride Month, schools are advising teachers to access ZEP materials, including an article titled “10 Easy Ways to Analyze Children’s Books for Disabilities.”
In Chicago, the school district lists ZEP among its “Equity Tools” alongside other social justice resources like the National Equity Project’s work on implicit bias.
Portland Public Schools has also instructed teachers to reference ZEP for Black History Month content, featuring 328 web pages dedicated to this theme.
A recommendation from ZEP for Black History Month suggests the book “The Real Ebonics Debate,” which discusses Ebonics as a distinct language for many African American children and the necessity for teachers to be equipped for discussions surrounding it.
Moreover, in Berkeley, California, a teaching guide for grades K-8 has been connected to the same ZEP Black History Month page.
In 2021, Columbus City Schools handed eighth-graders summer assignments that criticized Columbus for alleged “genocide” against the Taino people. This assignment was sourced from ZEP and included follow-up questions.
One portion of the lesson states that focusing solely on the deaths of the Taino people can obscure their lived experiences, which are vital to understanding the historical context.
ZEP’s website showcases numerous teacher testimonials, like one from Sarah Giddings, a social studies instructor in Mesa, Arizona. She integrated ZEP materials to engage students in climate change discussions.
Giddings noted an activity that had her students participate in a mock trial about responsibility for the climate crisis, stating that her students became emotionally and intellectually invested in the subject.
Another teacher, Corey Wincester from Evanston, Illinois, remarked that using ZEP resources for nearly a decade has allowed his students to critically evaluate historical narratives surrounding figures like Columbus and Lincoln, particularly regarding issues of race.
No comments were received from the districts regarding these approaches.
