Censorship of school curricula in the United States

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A crowd protesting then U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in 2017

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 being highly decentralized, states are delegated with much of the responsibility for administering public education, and it is often governments of the red states that have enacted such policies.

In 2021, bills were introduced in multiple state legislatures to restrict teaching certain concepts, including

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, during the aftermath of

Scopes Trial. Scopes was convicted; however, the widespread publicity galvanized proponents of evolution. When the case was appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Court overturned the decision on a technicality (the judge had assessed the fine when the jury had been required to). Although it overturned the conviction, the Court decided that the law was not in violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
. The Court held:

We are not able to see how the prohibition of teaching the theory that man has descended from a lower order of animals gives preference to any religious establishment or mode of worship. So far as we know there is no religious establishment or organized body that has its creed or confession of faith any article denying or affirming such a theory. — John Thomas Scopes v. The State 154 Tenn. 105, 289 S.W. 363 (1927)[13]

The interpretation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment up to that time was that Congress could not establish a particular religion as the State religion. Consequently, the Court held that the ban on the teaching of evolution did not violate the Establishment Clause, because it did not establish one religion as the "State religion." As a result of the holding, the teaching of evolution remained illegal in Tennessee, and continued campaigning succeeded in removing evolution from school textbooks throughout the United States.[14][15][16]

One expert in the 1920s described the anti-vaccine movement as America's first modern culture war.[17]

In the 1960s, some movements sought to remove racist and sexist material from school textbooks.[8] Historian Jonathan Zimmerman stated that in the 1960s, "there were history textbooks in this country, including in the North, that still described slavery as a mostly beneficent institution devised by benevolent white people to civilize savage Africans."[18]

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.[19]

Present day

In the 21st century in the United States, Republican lawmakers have proposed or enacted legislation to censor school curricula that taught about

higher-order thinking skills,[22] social justice,[23] sexism and racism,[24] and various left-wing political philosophies.[25]

In 2003, the school board of the Cedarville, Arkansas school district voted in Counts v. Cedarville School District to prohibit students from reading the well-known Harry Potter book series on the grounds that the books encouraged "disobedience and disrespect for authority" and dealt with "witchcraft" and "the occult." After the vote, all Harry Potter novels could no longer be checked out from school libraries by pupils in the Cedarville school system without a signed permission form from a parent or guardian. On the basis that "the limits violated students' First Amendment freedom to read and receive information," the district court reversed the board's decision and ordered the books to be returned to open circulation.[26]

As of August, 2023, 392 education "intimidation" bills have been introduced across the U.S.—all but 15 being led by Republican lawmakers.[27] President of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, considers intimidation bills to be a form of indirect censorship, where instead of just banning topics or content outright, they seek to instill fear in professionals (teachers, librarians, administrators, or district specialists) as well as students.[27]

2021 racism and sexism

Anti-critical race theory education across the U.S. as of 2022
  States with laws restricting education on race in classrooms or state agencies
  States considering bills or policies that would restrict race education in schools or state agencies
  States that failed to pass this type of legislation
  States that have not introduced legislation on this topic

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.[28] On May 4, 2021, the bill was signed into law by Governor Brad Little.[29]

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.[30]

The Florida Stop WOKE Act, standing for "Wrong to Our Kids and Employees", also known as the Individual Freedom Act, prohibits instruction and teaching that “espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels” certain topics of race and gender. The Stop W.O.K.E. Act was blocked from affecting higher education contexts, as it was a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. It was also argued that the law violated the Equal Protection Clause.[31]

systemic racism.[33][34] No Black legislator voted for the bill.[33] 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.'[35]

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][36] 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.[37][38]

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.[39] Governor Youngkin later established an email "tip line" where parents, teachers, and students can report violations of the order.[40] The tip line was quietly shut down in September 2022 after receiving very little volume.[41]

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

Timothy D. Snyder
, 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.[44][45]

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.[46]

federal appeals courts may reach contradictory decisions, which could lead to the Supreme Court choosing to take on the matter.[47]

LGBTQ topics

In 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act that would prohibit the discussion of LGBTQ topics from kindergarten to third grade.[48] An expansion was proposed in 2023 by Republican state senator Clay Yarborough, prohibiting teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity from pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade. DeSantis has already made comments supporting the bill, signaling that if it passes the legislature, he will likely sign it.[49][50] The bill has received widespread backlash from across the United States.[51][52][53]

Left-wing politics

Several legislative bodies have sought to enact restrictions on how certain left-wing politics topics are taught.[54][55] Socialism, marxism, and communism are often the focus of proposed or enacted bills and are restricted in a way that allows their discussion in classrooms, but must be discussed as antithetical to the politics of the United States.[25] In Arizona, a bill passed into law specifically listed totalitarianism alongside left-wing political philosophies.[56][57][58]

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. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  3. ISSN 0277-4232. Archived
    from the original on 2021-07-13. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  4. Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived
    from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  5. ^ Iati, Marissa (2021-05-29). "What is critical race theory, and why do Republicans want to ban it in schools?". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  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. Archived from the original on 2021-07-13. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  7. ^ Greenlee, Cynthia (2019-08-26). "How history textbooks reflect America's refusal to reckon with slavery". Vox. Archived from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  8. ^
    JSTOR 40365333. Archived
    from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  9. ^ Lowndes, Coleman (2017-10-25). "How Southern socialites rewrote Civil War history". Vox. Archived from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  10. ^
    JSTOR 40582363. Archived
    from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  11. ^ a b Laats, Adam (2021-11-23). "The Conservative War on Education That Failed". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  12. ^
    OCLC 153579349. Archived
    from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  13. ^ Tennessee Reports (PDF). Clarence Darrow Digital Collection (Report). Vol. 154. 1927. p. 118. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  14. ^ Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, 04 cv 2688 (December 20, 2005). Whether ID Is Science, p. 19.
  15. ^ Forrest, Barbara (May 2007). "Understanding the Intelligent Design Creationist Movement: Its True Nature and Goals" (PDF). Center for Inquiry. Washington, D.C.: Center for Inquiry. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  16. ^ Flank, Lenny (March 2006). "The History of Creationism". TalkOrigins Archive (Post of the Month). Houston, TX: The TalkOrigins Foundation, Inc. Archived from the original on 2014-08-23. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  17. ^ Shipley, Maynard (1927). The War on Modern Science: A Short History of the Fundamentalist Attacks on Evolution and Modernism. A.A. Knopf. Archived from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  18. ^ Grady, Constance (2022-02-17). "How the new banned books panic fits into America's history of school censorship". Vox. Archived from the original on 2022-05-22. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  19. JSTOR 40365333. Archived
    from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  20. ^ "Campaigns to Undermine Sexuality Education in the Public Schools". American Civil Liberties Union. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  21. ^ "The censorship debates don't start in college. Elementary school parents aren't happy with LGBTQ-friendly books". Newsweek. 2017-10-27. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  22. Washington Post. Archived
    from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  23. ^ "Arizona Republicans move to ban social justice courses and events at schools". the Guardian. 2017-01-13. Archived from the original on 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  24. ^ "A New Wave of Bills Takes Aim at Science in the Classroom". FRONTLINE. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  25. ^ a b Gross, Terry (February 3, 2022). "From slavery to socialism, new legislation restricts what teachers can discuss". NPR.
  26. S2CID 228866542. Archived
    from the original on 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  27. ^ a b Thakker, Prem (2023-08-23). "Republicans Pushed Almost 400 "Education Intimidation" Bills in Past Two Years". The Intercept. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ Vile, John R. "Stop W.O.K.E Act (Florida)". www.mtsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  32. ^ Faison, Jeremy. "We Tennessee lawmakers banned critical race theory in school to protect children | Opinion". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  33. ^ a b c Waters, David (18 June 2021). "Did House Bill 580 negate critical race theory or prove it?". Daily Memphian. Archived from the original on 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  34. WBIR. Archived
    from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  35. ^ Sisk, Chas (2021-05-04). "Tennessee House Votes To Restrict Teaching About Racial Inequality". WPLN-FM. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ Sachs, Jeffrey (December 13, 2021). "Scope and Speed of Educational Gag Orders Worsening Across the Country". PEN America. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  38. Popular Information. Archived
    from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  39. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  40. ^ Newsroom, NBC12 (26 January 2022). "Gov. Youngkin sets up email tip line to report 'divisive' teaching practices". www.wdbj7.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-03-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ "Youngkin administration shut down education 'tip line' in September". VPM.org. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  42. ^ "Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism in American History". American Historical Association AHA. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-16. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  43. ^ Gibbons, Rashawn Ray and Alexandra (2021-07-02). "Why are states banning critical race theory?". Brookings. Archived from the original on 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  44. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived
    from the original on 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  45. ^ "How Trump ignited the fight over critical race theory in schools". NBC News. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  46. ^ Sawchuk, Stephen (20 October 2021). "Critical Race Theory Law Violates Teachers' Free Speech, ACLU Argues in New Lawsuit". Education Week. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  47. ^ Burch, Jim (2022-03-21). "Schools, censorship, and the law". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  48. ^ "'Don't Say Gay' bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis". Associated Press. 28 March 2022.
  49. ^ Gancarski, A. G. (2023-03-07). "Gov. DeSantis warms to proposed expansion of 'Parental Rights in Education' law". Florida Politics. Archived from the original on 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  50. ^ "Senate Bill 1320 (2023) - The Florida Senate". www.flsenate.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  51. ^ Vera, Amir; Alvarado, Caroll (March 7, 2022). "Florida students participate in massive walkout to protest the 'Don't Say Gay' bill". CNN. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  52. ^ Hand, Mark (March 16, 2022). "Arlington Middle Schoolers Protest Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill". Patch. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  53. ^ Dunne, Samanta (March 3, 2022). "Students across Seminole County walkout to protest Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill". ClickOrlando. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  54. ISSN 0277-4232
    . Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  55. ^ Greene, Peter. "Teacher Anti-CRT Bills Coast To Coast: A State By State Guide". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  56. ^ Services, Howard Fischer, Capitol Media (2021-11-28). "Lawmaker pushes bill to teach evils of communism | Arizona Capitol Times". Retrieved 2023-11-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  57. ^ Williams, Jordan (2021-06-26). "Arizona House passes law requiring teachers to share stories of people who fled communism". The Hill. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  58. ^ Reporter, ADI Staff (2022-06-18). "Governor Signs Bill Creating Anti-Communist Civics Education For Arizona High School Students". Arizona Daily Independent. Retrieved 2023-11-28.

Further reading

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Censorship_of_school_curricula_in_the_United_States&oldid=1228488771"