Sim Kern's journey to becoming a leading voice for Palestinian liberation was not forged in the halls of academia, but in the classrooms of a Houston middle school. For ten years, they taught English to a community of 99% Latina students, many of whom were English as a second language learners. This experience, they explain, was the perfect training ground for their current work: making complex, emotionally charged topics like genocide and colonialism accessible to a wide audience. Kern's work is a masterclass in the pedagogy of liberation, showing that how we teach is just as important as what we teach.
In the classroom, Kern learned to be concise, clear, and occasionally funny, even when the topic was bleak. They mastered techniques like "fast mapping," where a complex term is immediately followed by a simple definition, a practice they now use to dismantle Zionist talking points. This is a stark contrast to the academic world, where, as Kern notes, scholars can get "brain worms," becoming so enmeshed in jargon that they lose the ability to communicate with every day people. This is a critical insight for social movements: for an idea to be powerful, it must beunderstood. As research on critical pedagogy shows, the way we are taught directly affects how we participate in society [1].
Kern's book, Genocide Bad, is a powerful example of this pedagogical approach. It systematically dismantles nine common Israeli propaganda (Hasbara) talking points, from the weaponization of the Holocaust to the myth that criticizing Israel is inherently anti-Semitic. But instead of starting with dense historical analysis, Kern flips the script. They begin with the moral question—how can we witness such human evil and not act?—and then provide the historical context to help readers understand how we got here. This approach, rooted in the principles of student-centered learning, empowers readers to engage with the material on their own terms, sparking curiosity rather than demanding prior expertise [2].
This method of accessible education is not about "dumbing down" complex issues. It is about respecting the audience and meeting them where they are. It is about recognizing that, as Kern puts it,"you never know what your share is going to do." A single conversation, a shared article, or a book passed from one person to another canbe the catalyst for profound change. Kern's own political awakening began whena stranger at a Borders bookstore handed them a copy of Adbusters magazine. Now, they are paying it forward, providing the tools for a new generation of activists to unlearn indoctrination and fight for collective liberation. Their work is a testament to the fact that the most effective activism is often simply good teaching.
[1] Public Books. (2022, December 1). Student-Centered Pedagogy’s Activist Roots.
https://www.publicbooks.org/student-centered-pedagogys-activist-roots/
[2] ETFO Voice. Teaching for Social Justice Using an Activist Approach.
https://etfovoice.ca/feature/teaching-social-justice-using-activist-approach
.svg)
