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In 1980, a national survey co-sponsored by the [[Association of American Publishers]], the [[American Library Association]], and the [[Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development]] discovered that censorship of curriculum was occurring and increasing in [[State school|public schools]] throughout the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gerke|first=Ray|date=1983|title=American Textbooks: Perspectives on Public Controversies and Censorship|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40365333|journal=The High School Journal|volume=67|issue=1|pages=59|issn=0018-1498}}</ref>
In 1980, a national survey co-sponsored by the [[Association of American Publishers]], the [[American Library Association]], and the [[Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development]] discovered that censorship of curriculum was occurring and increasing in [[State school|public schools]] throughout the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gerke|first=Ray|date=1983|title=American Textbooks: Perspectives on Public Controversies and Censorship|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40365333|journal=The High School Journal|volume=67|issue=1|pages=59|issn=0018-1498}}</ref>


In the 21st century in the United States, Republican lawmakers have proposed or enacted legislation to censor school curriculum that taught about [[comprehensive sex education]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Campaigns to Undermine Sexuality Education in the Public Schools|url=https://www.aclu.org/other/campaigns-undermine-sexuality-education-public-schools|access-date=2022-01-31|website=American Civil Liberties Union|language=en}}</ref> [[LGBT|LGBTQ]] people,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-27|title=The censorship debates don't start in college. Elementary school parents aren't happy with LGBTQ-friendly books|url=https://www.newsweek.com/censorship-lgbtq-schools-694791|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref> [[critical thinking]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Strauss|first=Valerie|date=July 9, 2012|title=Texas GOP rejects ‘critical thinking’ skills. Really.|work=[[Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/texas-gop-rejects-critical-thinking-skills-really/2012/07/08/gJQAHNpFXW_blog.html}}</ref> [[Social justice|social-justice]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-01-13|title=Arizona Republicans move to ban social justice courses and events at schools|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/13/arizona-schools-social-justice-courses-ban-bill|access-date=2022-01-31|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> sexism, and racism.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A New Wave of Bills Takes Aim at Science in the Classroom|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/a-new-wave-of-bills-takes-aim-at-science-in-the-classroom/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=FRONTLINE|language=en-US}}</ref>
In the 21st century in the United States, Republican lawmakers have proposed or enacted legislation to censor school curriculum that taught about [[comprehensive sex education]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Campaigns to Undermine Sexuality Education in the Public Schools|url=https://www.aclu.org/other/campaigns-undermine-sexuality-education-public-schools|access-date=2022-01-31|website=American Civil Liberties Union|language=en}}</ref> [[LGBT|LGBTQ]] people,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-27|title=The censorship debates don't start in college. Elementary school parents aren't happy with LGBTQ-friendly books|url=https://www.newsweek.com/censorship-lgbtq-schools-694791|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref> "high order" critical thinking,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Strauss|first=Valerie|date=July 9, 2012|title=Texas GOP rejects ‘critical thinking’ skills. Really.|work=[[Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/texas-gop-rejects-critical-thinking-skills-really/2012/07/08/gJQAHNpFXW_blog.html}}</ref> [[Social justice|social-justice]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-01-13|title=Arizona Republicans move to ban social justice courses and events at schools|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/13/arizona-schools-social-justice-courses-ban-bill|access-date=2022-01-31|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> sexism, and racism.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A New Wave of Bills Takes Aim at Science in the Classroom|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/a-new-wave-of-bills-takes-aim-at-science-in-the-classroom/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=FRONTLINE|language=en-US}}</ref>


===2020s: bans on critical race theory and associated topics ===
===2020s: bans on critical race theory and associated topics ===

Revision as of 12:53, 14 February 2022

Throughout the history of the United States, various topics have been censored and banned in education, including teaching about evolution, racism, sexism, sex education, and LGBTQ+ topics. Due to the federal system of the country delegating states much of the responsibility to administer public education, it is often state governments that have enacted such policies.

In 2021, bills were introduced in multiple state legislatures to restrict teaching certain concepts, including critical race theory (CRT) and sexism, in public schools.[1] Bills were passed in 14 states, all of which had both Republican-majority legislatures and republican governors.[2][3] Several of these bills specifically mention "critical race theory" or single out the New York Times 1619 Project. CRT is only taught at a university level, though some lower-level curricula have reflected basic themes of CRT.[4][5][examples needed]

Other state-level efforts have involved state boards of education restricting the teaching of issues surrounding race and sex.[6]

History

Some of the first evidence of censorship of school curriculum in the United States comes during the Civil War, when Southern textbook publishers removed material critical of slavery.[7][8] After the Civil War, a vigorous movement from groups like the United Daughters of the Confederacy in the South promoted the Lost Cause of the Confederacy in schools.[9][10] The movement censored any offending works and lead to "indoctrination of southern schoolchildren with aristocratic social values unchanged since the antebellum epoch."[10]

During the 19th century's temperance movement, some school book publishers revised content to suit the anti-alcohol position.[8]

In the 1920s, conservatives across the country attempted to ban teaching on evolution.[11] Legislators proposed more than 53 bills from 1922 to 1929 (twenty in state legislatures and two in Congress), five of which succeeded.[11] One expert at the time described the anti-vaccine movement as America's first modern culture war.[12]

In 1960s, some movements sought to remove racist and sexist material from school textbooks.[8]

In 1980, a national survey co-sponsored by the Association of American Publishers, the American Library Association, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development discovered that censorship of curriculum was occurring and increasing in public schools throughout the United States.[13]

In the 21st century in the United States, Republican lawmakers have proposed or enacted legislation to censor school curriculum that taught about comprehensive sex education,[14] LGBTQ people,[15] "high order" critical thinking,[16] social-justice,[17] sexism, and racism.[18]

2020s: bans on critical race theory and associated topics

In mid-April 2021, a bill was introduced in the Idaho legislature that would effectively ban any educational entity from teaching or advocating sectarianism, including critical race theory or other programs involving social justice.[19] On May 4, 2021, the bill was signed into law by Governor Brad Little.[20]

On June 10, 2021, the Florida State Board of Education unanimously voted to ban public schools from teaching critical race theory at the urging of governor Ron DeSantis.[21]

Tennessee House Bill 580 was passed in May 2021 by the Tennessee 112th Regular Session state legislature.[22][23] The law prohibits the teaching of 14 concepts surrounding race and gender discrimination, including the concept of systemic racism.[23][24] No Black legislator voted for the bill.[23] According to WLPN, the law 'bar(s) any lesson that causes an individual “discomfort, guilt, anguish, or another form of psychological distress” because of their race or sex.'[25]

As of July 2021, 10 US states had introduced bills or taken other steps that would restrict how teachers discuss racism, sexism, and other "divisive issues", and 26 others were in the process of doing so.[6][26] As of November 9, 2021, 28 US states had introduced such bills–all by Republican lawmakers.[6]

Arizona passed a law, but it was overturned by the Arizona Supreme Court as unconstitutional.[6] The Republican-majority North Carolina State Legislature passed a similar law, but it was vetoed by democratic Governor Roy Cooper.[6]

Several other states introduced bills that failed to pass or as of November 2021 were still awaiting action.[6]

As of December 2021, 66 educational gag orders had been filed for the year in 26 state legislatures (12 bills had already been passed into law) that would inhibit teaching any race theory in schools, universities, or state agencies, by teachers, employers or contractors. Penalties vary, but predominantly include loss of funding for schools and institutions. However, in some cases the bills mandate firing of employees.[27][28]

Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin made education a core part of his political platform while running for the office in 2021, including an explicit call to "ban" critical race theory from Virginia schools "on day one." Upon his election to the office in November 2021, Youngkin reiterated that point, and upon his inauguration to the office on January 15, 2022, he signed his first executive order banning critical race theory in Virginia schools.[29]

Other state-level actions

A protester speaks against critical race theory at an Alamance-Burlington School System board meeting in 2021

Other state government officials and State Boards of Education (SBOE) also adopted similar measures in 2021. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen prohibited teachers from asking students to "reflect on privilege".[6] Utah's SBOE, at the request of the state legislature, restricted the teaching of racism and sexism.[6] Alabama's SBOE banned the teaching of concepts that impute fault, blame, a tendency to oppress others, or the need to feel guilt or anguish to persons solely because of their race or sex.”[6] Georgia's SBOE banned teaching that "indoctrinates" students. Florida's SBOE prohibited teaching about critical race theory or the 1619 Project.[6]

Response

In June 2021, the American Association of University Professors, the American Historical Association, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, and PEN America released a joint statement stating their opposition to such legislation, and by August 2021, 167 professional organizations had signed onto the statement.[30] In August 2021, the Brookings Institution recorded that eight states—Idaho, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Iowa, New Hampshire, Arizona, and South Carolina—had passed regulation on the issue, though also noted that none of the bills that passed, with the exception of Idaho's, actually contained the words "critical race theory." Brookings also noted that these laws often extend beyond race to discussions of gender.[31] Critics[who?] have called the state laws a memory law and a confirmation of the idea that racism is codified into the law of the United States. As well as arguing that banning educators from teaching about the nation’s history regarding racism is a disservice to students. [32][33]

Lawsuits have been filed in Oklahoma and New Hampshire against Anti-Critical Race Theory laws passed there, which claim the laws deprive teachers of free-speech and equal protection rights.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ O'Kane, Caitlin (May 21, 2021). "Nearly a dozen states want to ban critical race theory in schools". CBS News. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  2. ^ Waxman, Olivia (24 June 2021). "'Critical Race Theory Is Simply the Latest Bogeyman.' Inside the Fight Over What Kids Learn About America's History". Time.
  3. ^ "Map: Where Critical Race Theory Is Under Attack". Education Week. 2021-06-11. ISSN 0277-4232. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  4. ^ "Critical race theory". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-11-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Iati, Marissa (2021-05-29). "What is critical race theory, and why do Republicans want to ban it in schools?". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-11-24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Schwartz, Sarah (2021-06-11). "Map: Where Critical Race Theory Is Under Attack". Education Week. Retrieved 2021-07-13.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Greenlee, Cynthia (2019-08-26). "How history textbooks reflect America's refusal to reckon with slavery". Vox. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  8. ^ a b c Gerke, Ray (1983). "American Textbooks: Perspectives on Public Controversies and Censorship". The High School Journal. 67 (1): 60. ISSN 0018-1498.
  9. ^ Lowndes, Coleman (2017-10-25). "How Southern socialites rewrote Civil War history". Vox. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  10. ^ a b Bailey, Fred Arthur (1991). "The Textbooks of the "Lost Cause": Censorship and the Creation of Southern State Histories". The Georgia Historical Quarterly. 75 (3): 507–533. ISSN 0016-8297.
  11. ^ a b Laats, Adam (2021-11-23). "The Conservative War on Education That Failed". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  12. ^ Shipley, Maynard (1927). The War on Modern Science: A Short History of the Fundamentalist Attacks on Evolution and Modernism. A.A. Knopf.
  13. ^ Gerke, Ray (1983). "American Textbooks: Perspectives on Public Controversies and Censorship". The High School Journal. 67 (1): 59. ISSN 0018-1498.
  14. ^ "Campaigns to Undermine Sexuality Education in the Public Schools". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  15. ^ "The censorship debates don't start in college. Elementary school parents aren't happy with LGBTQ-friendly books". Newsweek. 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  16. ^ Strauss, Valerie (July 9, 2012). "Texas GOP rejects 'critical thinking' skills. Really". Washington Post.
  17. ^ "Arizona Republicans move to ban social justice courses and events at schools". the Guardian. 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  18. ^ "A New Wave of Bills Takes Aim at Science in the Classroom". FRONTLINE. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  19. ^ Richert, Kevin; Jones, Blake (April 19, 2021). "Legislative roundup, 4.19.21: New bill targets sectarianism, critical race theory". Idaho Education News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  20. ^ Adams, Biba (May 4, 2021). "Bill banning critical race theory in public schools becomes law". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  21. ^ Postal, Leslie (June 10, 2021). "Florida board votes to ban "critical race theory" from state classrooms". orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  22. ^ Faison, Jeremy. "We Tennessee lawmakers banned critical race theory in school to protect children | Opinion". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  23. ^ a b c Waters, David (18 June 2021). "Did House Bill 580 negate critical race theory or prove it?". Daily Memphian. Retrieved 2021-12-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Smith, Shannon (26 May 2021). "'We cannot whitewash history' | Opponents say new TN law prohibiting lessons on race will cause more harm than good". WBIR. Retrieved 2021-12-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Sisk, Chas (2021-05-04). "Tennessee House Votes To Restrict Teaching About Racial Inequality". WPLN-FM. Retrieved 2021-12-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ Greenfield, Nathan M. (June 12, 2021). "Why are states lining up to ban critical race theory?". University World News. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  27. ^ Sachs, Jeffrey (December 13, 2021). "Scope and Speed of Educational Gag Orders Worsening Across the Country". PEN America.
  28. ^ Legum, Judd (December 20, 2021). "DeSantis proposes legislation to let parents sue teachers who tell the truth about U.S. history". Popular Information.
  29. ^ https://www.governor.virginia.gov/news-releases/2022/january/name-918519-en.html
  30. ^ "Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism in American History". American Historical Association AHA. June 16, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ Gibbons, Rashawn Ray and Alexandra (2021-07-02). "Why are states banning critical race theory?". Brookings. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  32. ^ Snyder, Timothy (2021-06-29). "The War on History Is a War on Democracy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  33. ^ "How Trump ignited the fight over critical race theory in schools". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  34. ^ Sawchuk, Stephen (20 October 2021). "Critical Race Theory Law Violates Teachers' Free Speech, ACLU Argues in New Lawsuit". Education Week.

External links

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