Pittsburgh Academy Assigns Controversial Reading List

A high school ethnic studies course in Pittsburgh is facing scrutiny over course materials comparing Gaza to the Warsaw Ghetto.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an academic building facade in navy and cream, representing the scrutiny of high school curriculum. — The Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy faces criticism over ethnic studies readings that draw comparisons between Gaza and the Warsaw Ghetto. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should public schools prioritize diverse historical interpretations over traditional academic neutrality when selecting course materials?

The Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy has assigned readings in its ethnic studies course that draw comparisons between Gaza and the West Bank to the Warsaw Ghetto. The syllabus, obtained by the North American Values Institute through a public records request, includes academic texts on settler colonialism and Jewish identity.

Why it matters

The inclusion of these specific academic texts in a high school curriculum highlights the ongoing debates surrounding how sensitive geopolitical topics and historical comparisons are introduced in the classroom.

The school assigned a 20-year-old article titled Settler Colonialism and the Elimination of the Native alongside the 2008 book The Price of Whiteness. The district maintains 55 schools serving approximately 18,000 students.

The players

Pittsburgh Public Schools

This school district oversees 55 schools and will require an ethnic studies course for all students graduating in 2028 or later.

Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy

This is a public school within the Pittsburgh district that is currently under review for its ethnic studies course syllabus.

North American Values Institute

This organization monitors educational curriculum standards and obtained the course materials through a public records request.

Patrick Wolfe

He was an academic who wrote extensively on settler colonialism before his death in 2016.

The details

The course, which includes a unit on whiteness, privilege and antisemitism, relies on materials like the 2006 article by Patrick Wolfe. These college-credit readings have drawn attention due to their framing of historical and contemporary conflicts.

2006: Patrick Wolfe published the article Settler Colonialism and the Elimination of the Native.
2008: Princeton University Press published the book The Price of Whiteness.
2016: Author Patrick Wolfe died.
2017: The Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Community Study reported population figures.
Class of 2028: Ethnic studies becomes a required course for graduation.

Culture Shift

The controversy surrounding this syllabus highlights the broader societal tension regarding the integration of complex geopolitical narratives into public secondary education. As districts across the nation adopt new ethnic studies mandates, the selection of source materials is increasingly scrutinized for historical bias.

Families with students in the district may see changes to how sensitive historical topics are handled as public pressure influences curriculum reviews. This shift could alter the specific texts provided to students in upcoming semesters.

The takeaway

Selecting academic materials for high schoolers requires balancing historical rigor with pedagogical age-appropriateness. Parents can engage with school board meetings to better understand how specific course readers are vetted by the district.