The study of racism in the United States is a leading culture war cause for Republicans in 2021. State lawmakers have begun to focus on the issue, which is expected to dominate red-state legislatures this year.
Legislators in at least a dozen Republican-controlled statehouses plan to push dozens of bills in upcoming legislative sessions that aim to halt teachings about race and society and give parents more say in what's discussed in classrooms.
The Republicans have a clear power incentive, as they intend to campaign on the bills in Virginia, where education was a top issue in the November election.
Seitz said there was a huge red wave coming. Virginia is a good example of the rest of the United States.
Critical race theory was developed by legal scholars looking at how race and racism have become ingrained in American law and institutions since slavery and Jim Crow. Conservatives began using critical race theory as a shorthand for a broader critique of how race and social issues are taught in the K-12 education system.
Their criticism focuses on the belief that white students are being told that they are not good enough because of their race. They argue that history lessons about the founding of the nation that use some of the tenets of critical race theory promote discrimination against white students and depict students of color as victims.
Most public school officials across the country do not teach any curriculum based on the theory, even in districts and states that are trying to ban the practice. The anti-critical race theory push is motivated by a fear among white conservatives about changing racial awareness in the U.S., according to some Democrats and other critics.
The impact of these bills on the long-term will be a big question, as they will either be symbolic acts or permanent changes to what millions of students are taught.
The bills will have a chilling effect on teachers, as Republican lawmakers race to outdo each other to pass the most extreme legislation, said Jeffrey Sachs, a professor at Acadia University who has been tracking these bills. He is concerned that teachers will make changes to courses and readings in order to avoid backlash from parents and legislation being enacted.
He pointed to former Virginia Gov. Terry McCa, who was the governor at the time. The theory of a dog whistle has never been taught in Virginia schools.
He said that highlighting how dangerous and extreme some of the bills are would be a better response.
The teaching of divisive concepts in classrooms was the focus of much of the action in statehouses last year. The New York Times feature about the roots of American slavery has drawn some questions from historians and was the target of conservative venom.
The template for other states was enacted in Oklahoma last year, which banned teaching that anyone is "inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously," or that they should feel "discomfort, guilt, or any other form of psychological distress."
Going forward, the legislative push will include banning certain teachings, giving parents more oversight of the K-12 curriculum, and rejecting books that critics deem too controversial for young children to be exposed to.
Legislators want to focus on public colleges and universities. A bill in Wisconsin would prohibit employees from being required to attend trainings that promote race or sex. There are bills pending in Alabama, Florida, Iowa and Kentucky.
Conservatives like the Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute and Goldwater Institute helped to create the legislative movement. The Center for Renewing America, a right-leaning nonprofit created by Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget under Donald Trump, is one of the groups that has written sample legislative texts.
The issue gained traction because of the conservative backlash to the Black Lives Matter movement and the frustration of many parents over school closings. With millions of students learning virtually from home, parents got a better glimpse inside classrooms, but some were unhappy with what they saw.
Tennessee was one of the first states to pass this type of legislation last year, and the Education Commission recently signed off on guidance that boosted the financial penalties against large school districts that violate the new state law.
The first complaint the state will receive about alleged violations was rejected by the board in November, but it remains to be seen how many will be received.
The group was concerned about four books, one of which was about the first Black children to desegregate all-white schools in New Orleans.
Some parents want to keep their children from learning uncomfortable truths about U.S. history, which may inspire students to push for racial equity by dismantling certain systems.
Ray said that people who embody those white supremacist views don't want to give up.
He said that the classrooms have been hit by an ideological civil war. The fight for the democratic future of America is going to control future elections.
In Texas, the county commissioners threatened to deny federal funding to two school districts because of concerns about inappropriate books in school libraries. The funds were released but with a requirement that the schools review certain books. The districts pulled 11 books after a yearlong review.
Jonathan Butcher, an education expert, said that it should be possible for a parent to say that they want to know more about what their child is learning. When it comes to the roots of American democracy and how we talk about racial issues.
Several parent groups formed last year that investigated course materials and found books in libraries they thought weren't appropriate for some kids are the reason for the proposed legislation in South Carolina expected to be considered on the House floor.
The bill would require schools to post instructional lists and give parents a way to contact them. It would forbid school employees from being required to attend diversity training and prohibit teaching of certain "tenets" like "that any sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior." State funds may be taken away from schools.
The bill's sponsor said that parents have been awakened all over the country.
He said that school districts and schools tend to talk about parent involvement, but they are not thrilled when they get it. The attitude has to be broken down.
