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For the past few years, Republicans have been politically attacking the teaching of race, discrimination, and 鈥溾�� topics in history in schools. According to , 44 out of 50 state legislatures in the U.S. have proposed anti-critical-race-theory laws. Some have been vetoed, some are still moving through the legislative process, and 18 have been enacted. Since the introduction of these laws, many students are left to face ripped-out pages in their textbooks and  a slip of the tongue might cost them their jobs.

How Teachers Navigate Texas Laws 

The laws banning or curtailing history education vary by state. Texas and Florida, two Republican-dominated states, have been early proponents of these policies. For some of these legislators, Black and diverse history appears to not be a valuable part of the U.S. educational curriculum. In early 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida  the College Board鈥檚 new AP African American history class, claiming it 鈥渓acks educational value.鈥� Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, who seems to agree with DeSantis, signed Senate Bill 3, a law that would prohibit the teaching of current events without 鈥渄eference to both sides,鈥� into .

Jesse Arrieta, a high school history teacher at the Young Women鈥檚 STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy in El Paso, Texas, says she struggles when teaching about race. 鈥淪ome of my colleagues were nervous at the beginning of last school year due to declarations by Greg Abbott that [he] would crack down on teachers in this anti-CRT moment.鈥� But, she adds, 鈥渕y goal as a  has always been to disrupt the 鈥榞rand narrative,鈥� to be inclusive, and to help students understand that their history, whoever they are, is part of U.S. history.鈥� 

Anti-CRT laws have only increased Arrieta鈥檚 resolve to teach what鈥檚 being denied to students. She says, 鈥淭he revolution is in the classroom, and it is up to teachers to resist oppressive bills and bans, as it does not coincide with our job as state employees who have to follow a certain curriculum.鈥� She explains, 鈥� [Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills] state what we are to teach, not how. Teaching about race, racism, sexism, etc. is not Critical Race Theory. It is simply part of the reality of life and of history.鈥� 

Although Arrieta is committed to teaching through such a lens in her classroom, other teachers may not do the same. She points out, 鈥淭hose teachers who never cared about the 鈥榠sms鈥� and never cared to highlight Black History Month or any other month will continue to ignore it. Unfortunately, I have worked with many of those teachers too, over the years.鈥�

Chandra Woods, another educator at the Academy, relates her experience, saying, 鈥淚 just had a conversation with a really good friend of mine about how I can appropriately implement Black history into my classroom while not going against state law. It is truly upsetting and unfortunate that this is happening in today鈥檚 world, especially with so many racially charged situations happening all around us.鈥� 

For Woods, talking about race in the classroom doesn鈥檛 violate the law. This month, she is focusing on 鈥淏lack excellence鈥� specifically centered on her all-female school. She says, 鈥淎lthough very limited in what we can cover, I think that discussing influential Black women in high spaces, such as former First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes, Viola Davis, etc. are just a few starting points on still being able to provide impact during February while also keeping with the theme of my school鈥攚omen who succeed.鈥�

Students Speak Out 

Students across Texas worry that their education is going to remove them from the realities of the past and present. Jahzara Wheaton, a high school junior attending the same school where Arrieta and Woods teach, says there was a lack of diverse perspectives in Texas education even before these laws: 鈥淲hen I was younger, I, as most children, was taught a very one-sided version of history. And in this version, the role that Black people played was largely that of a victim.鈥� 

Now, she is concerned that accurate depictions of her community鈥檚 past will be even more elusive. 鈥淚t is very challenging to get an accurate picture or an account of history.鈥� Wheaton speculates that the bans are in place because 鈥渋f educators were allowed to teach students about the reality of oppression throughout history, it would go against everything this country prides itself on.鈥�

Otitodilichukwu Ikem, another high schooler from Coronado High School in El Paso, shares that she has had similar experiences: 鈥淚 go to school in Texas, so the topic of Black history is very filtered. I try my best to learn more on my own, but it is very discouraging when schools paint what I鈥檓 learning in a different light.鈥�

Ikem believes the educational system is undermining Black voices, saying, 鈥淚t鈥檚 very hypocritical and harmful. We learn about European, Spanish, French, Italian, and even Japanese history. Why is African American history the one that鈥檚 banned?鈥� She says, 鈥淭he message they are sending to everyone is, 鈥楬ey, you can learn everything in school, but learning about African American history is too much.鈥欌�� 

When asked how this is changing the way her classes function, Wheaton explains there is fear among students and teachers. 鈥淢any teachers have been intimidated into teaching what others feel should be taught and not what needs to be taught. Even those teachers I鈥檝e had who were not afraid to challenge what is accepted had to do so in secret.鈥� 

Such secret conversations on social issues seem to be a new normal for students. Worse, some worry it changes the way they navigate their lives outside of school as well. According to Wheaton, 鈥淭he impression that it left on me was that of fear. Not just for me, but for anyone willing to learn about social issues outside [the classroom] for themselves.鈥�