02/17/2022

With Black History Lessons Under Attack, Associations Fight Back

This is emblematic of the problems educators are facing nationwide

The Alabama Department of Education has received a slew of complaints this month. The callers contend that educators in the state are teaching critical race theory (CRT), a concept that examines the impact of race in American institutions. The Alabama State School Board banned teaching CRT in K-12 schools.

The state school superintendent responded that schools are not teaching anything that even resembles CRT, which is a college-level academic concept. They're having lessons for Black History Month, which occurs every February.

This story is emblematic of the problems educators are facing nationwide, as policies and legislation in a number of states would—or already do—restrict what teachers can say about history and race. These policies are chilling and hamper a free society, said Jeremy Young, senior manager of the Free Expression and Education program at PEN America.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Associations Now.