"Black History Month has played a big part in gaining a broader understanding of Black histories, going beyond racism and slavery to also spotlight Black achievement. But new "critical race theory" bans have been frustrating teachers during Black History Month and beyond." -- Willa oxley, 8th grade
Black History Month has played a big part in gaining a broader understanding of Black histories, going beyond racism and slavery to also spotlight Black achievement. But new "critical race theory" bans have been frustrating teachers during Black History Month and beyond.
Critical race theory states that US social institutions, including the criminal justice system, education system, the labor market, housing market, and healthcare system are laced with racism embedded in laws, regulations, rules, and procedures that lead to different outcomes by race. It was made out of the realization by legal scholars, lawyers, and activists that a lot of the progression of the Civil Rights era had stopped and in some ways were being reversed. Now, there are states within the US banning CRT (critical race theory) which is stopping teachers from having students learn about it in schools, especially during Black History Month.
Two-thirds of Americans say that schools haven’t been properly teaching Black History. “Removed from the classroom, two-thirds of Americans look back and say they were not taught enough about the struggles and the triumphs of African Americans,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy. Removing Black History from classrooms leaves its effects on things as well. Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey said there has already been confusion as parents have complained about Black History teachings this month going against the ban. “There are people out there who don’t understand what CRT is. And so in their misunderstanding of it they make a report, but it’s not actually CRT,” Mackey told the House education policy committee earlier this month.
Some teachers have also spoken up about the ban. “I am not going to let any of these laws deter me from the things that I think work best for students,” said Eric Parker, the history teacher in Oklahoma. “But I also enjoy working with students and having a roof over my head.”
Passing the law which banned CRT is leaving teachers with no choice but to continue teaching without any Black History involvement. Some educators have either left or have lost their jobs due to debates over the new laws, but so far there have been no reports of widespread terminations of teachers. Overall, the new ban has left schools in a few states: Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Tennessee without proper education on CRT. And even more states have bills passing through the legislature to forbid the teaching of Critical Race Theory (Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin). Most teachers, despite their concerns, hope to hold onto their jobs while being open to questions and opinions of their students.
Critical race theory states that US social institutions, including the criminal justice system, education system, the labor market, housing market, and healthcare system are laced with racism embedded in laws, regulations, rules, and procedures that lead to different outcomes by race. It was made out of the realization by legal scholars, lawyers, and activists that a lot of the progression of the Civil Rights era had stopped and in some ways were being reversed. Now, there are states within the US banning CRT (critical race theory) which is stopping teachers from having students learn about it in schools, especially during Black History Month.
Two-thirds of Americans say that schools haven’t been properly teaching Black History. “Removed from the classroom, two-thirds of Americans look back and say they were not taught enough about the struggles and the triumphs of African Americans,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy. Removing Black History from classrooms leaves its effects on things as well. Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey said there has already been confusion as parents have complained about Black History teachings this month going against the ban. “There are people out there who don’t understand what CRT is. And so in their misunderstanding of it they make a report, but it’s not actually CRT,” Mackey told the House education policy committee earlier this month.
Some teachers have also spoken up about the ban. “I am not going to let any of these laws deter me from the things that I think work best for students,” said Eric Parker, the history teacher in Oklahoma. “But I also enjoy working with students and having a roof over my head.”
Passing the law which banned CRT is leaving teachers with no choice but to continue teaching without any Black History involvement. Some educators have either left or have lost their jobs due to debates over the new laws, but so far there have been no reports of widespread terminations of teachers. Overall, the new ban has left schools in a few states: Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Tennessee without proper education on CRT. And even more states have bills passing through the legislature to forbid the teaching of Critical Race Theory (Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin). Most teachers, despite their concerns, hope to hold onto their jobs while being open to questions and opinions of their students.