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Teachers, parents and students urge Skokie SD 68 board to reverse removal of Palestinian flag
Summary
Dozens of teachers, parents and students urged the Skokie School District 68 board to support Old Orchard teacher Maram (Maram) Mustafa after the district removed a Palestinian flag from her classroom, saying the display was part of an identity-focused lesson and that removing it harms student belonging.
Dozens of teachers, parents and students used public comment at a Skokie School District 68 board meeting to urge the district to support Old Orchard Junior High teacher Maram Mustafa after administrators removed a Palestinian flag from her classroom display. "Who Maram Mustafa is is not controversial," teacher Anna Fiesenfeld told the board, arguing Mustafa's identity helps students feel seen.
Multiple speakers described the flag as part of a student-created, identity-focused activity that featured a range of flags representing students' identities. Jessica Andree, who said she has worked at Old Orchard for 17 years, said removing identity markers can send students the message that some identities are less welcome: "If it truly takes a village, I'm very grateful to be a part of this one, a community that helps raise children... who understand the nuance of diversity and acceptance."
Mohammed Omar Hussein, a sixth-grade English-language arts teacher, said the episode should prompt the district to examine how it interprets curriculum standards against its stated values of cultural responsiveness and inclusion: "Moments like this ask us to consider whether those commitments look like in practice, especially when they are tested."
Matt Tominelly, co-president of the teachers' association, described the contested lesson as a routine "get to know you" activity and urged the board to stand with teachers, warning that singling out staff for expressing identity risks retention and recruitment. "The lesson that is in question... is a simple get to know you lesson used everywhere without controversy," he said.
Speakers representing classroom and support staff described student journal entries and anecdotes showing that students feel safer and more engaged when they see parts of their identity represented. Multiple parents and a student who spoke directly told the board the classroom felt welcoming and that Mustafa had made a positive impact.
Board members did not take action on the flag during the public-comment portion; later in the meeting the superintendent said a committee will develop guidance for classroom displays (see separate article).
