Texas on Tuesday became the latest conservative state to bar certain concepts related to race and racism from being discussed in the classroom, ignoring the passionate objections of educators who say the new law will make it harder for them to teach about America’s true past and present.
A bill that legislators say sought to ban “critical race theory” in school — but never defined or mentioned the concept explicitly — stirred fear among educators that there could be repercussions for broaching current events during class.
But Republican lawmakers championed the bill, which mirrors language being passed in other red states and parrots parts of former President Donald Trump’s rescinded executive order targeting “critical race theory.”
The bill’s author, Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, told his Texas House colleagues that the legislation was necessary “at a time when racial tensions are at a boiling point” and that “we don’t need to burden our kids with guilt for racial crimes they had nothing to do with.”
What does this law prohibit?
While the legislation was labeled an “anti-critical race theory” bill, it doesn’t actually contain those words. Instead,
it includes a long list of subjects and ideas that must — or must not — be taught. Critical race theory is an academic framework that explores how racism is embedded in U.S. policies and systems.
Recently, though, conservative pundits and politicians have attempted to conflate it with a slew of other concepts, such as diversity and inclusion efforts, anti-racism training, social justice activism or multicultural curricula.
Teachers can’t be “compelled to discuss a particular current event or widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs,” according to the new law. In January, for example, teachers grappled with how to properly teach about the U.S. Capitol insurrection and the inauguration of the first female vice president — knowing that the topics could be considered controversial but that the issues were on students’ minds.
School districts are also prohibited from requiring training that presents any form of race or sex stereotyping or blame on the basis of race or sex.
Dallas Superintendent Michael Hinojosa fears this provision could prevent ongoing districtwide training efforts over cultural competency. The training is part of a larger initiative to address the disparities Black students face at school. Trustees last year unanimously adopted a resolution declaring that Black lives matter.
The law prohibits teaching that “slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the authentic founding principles of the United States.” Several of the Founding Fathers owned slaves.