How Will Bans on 'Divisive' Classroom Topics Be Enforced? Here's What 10 States Plan to Do

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:
Brooke Binkowski
@brooklynmarie
As you can already see, this was never about "critical race theory" and was all about fearful, predatory racists wanting to exert control over free speech. And everyone just went along with this like it was authentic.

The Grade
@thegrade_
How Will Bans on ‘Divisive’ Classroom Topics Be Enforced? Here’s What 10 States Plan to Do | @Eeshapendharkar for @educationweek https://bit.ly/3xGTV0c
7:35 AM · Jul 15, 2021

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/how-will-bans-on-divisive-classroom-topics-be-enforced-heres-what-10-states-plan-to-do/2021/07


In Arizona, teachers who talk about racism and sexism in violation of a new state law can have their certification revoked by the state. Tennessee will take money away from the teacher’s school district. And, in New Hampshire, parents will be allowed to directly sue the school district.

That’s according to an Education Week review of the so-called “critical race theory” laws that and which will go into effect as soon as the end of this month.

Responding to critics’ claims that teachers are indoctrinating students to hate white people and accept LGBTQ cultural norms, legislatures are moving to censor or place often-ambiguous conditions on classroom discussions of divisive concepts, using a combination of financial penalties, state-mandated professional development reviews, and the threat of tangling administrators up in court and red tape, according to the review.

“It’ll be interesting to see what state regulators do with defining what constitutes ‘divisive,’” said Francisco Negrón, Chief Legal Officer at the National School Boards Association. “There’s going to need to be some more clarity about what those terms actually mean, and how courts [and regulatory agencies] are interpreting them in various states.”

*snip*

[tulipsandroses]

1. I am so disgusted. I dont ever want to hear anyone repeat this is not who we are

This is exactly who we are. This evil is so entrenched, that just the thought of trying to reckon with it is resisted.

[lindysalsagal]

2. No one in their right mind wants to be a public classroom teacher anymore.

It used to be a great profession. Now, they're just talking mannequins. That's what the GQP insists upon.

There was a Twilight Zone episode about a time in US society when children who could think for themselves were just killed. I think we're getting close.

[Bucky]

12. That is an accurate description of me

I'm just a talking mannequin. I don't want to do my job. I'm completely unprofessional. I'm simply not in my right mind. I am an idiot.

It's like you got a crystal ball into my head

[Act_of_Reparation]

13. I work in medicine.

Welcome to the Completely Unappreciated Professions Club. New guys buy the donuts and the coffee.

[OrlandoDem2]

3. Don't go into teaching. It's just not worth it.

[Bucky]

4. You wouldn't like the results of people following your advice

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I wonder what happened to 'freedom' in America. We now have 'citizens' preventing

freedom of speech and dictating what can be taught.

[7wo7rees]

6. America is so racist that

When you try to fight racism, they call you unAmerican.

[keithbvadu2]

7. Sueing the school district is sueing the taxpayers.

Sueing the school district is sueing the taxpayers.

[Bucky]

10. Not exactly.

Except in cases of individual violations of labor law, the point of suing a school district (or any government body) is it to get money, but to change their decisions, actions, or policy.

[Bucky]

8. Thank you for posting. I'll need to read this as a history teacher

It generally speaking, whenever the state issues crazy mandates like this, I'm more or less ignore them and keep on doing my job.

Like a few years ago Texas said we should start including Moses in how we taught development of American traditions of government. So the activity I came up with, in order to cover (1) Moses, (2) the critical thinking requirements, and (3) maintain focus on primary sources, was to have the kids do a compare and contrast between the Ten Commandments and the Bill of Rights.

Invariably they concluded the two aren't compatible and Moses's idea of lawgiving is in conflict with the American tradition of separation of state and government.

When next year rolls around, I'll look at my lessons and assess whether any of them use the phrase critical race theory. Since I never even heard that phrase before this year, I can be pretty sure it hasn't tainted my lesson plans.

I will teach the history of racism and the fight against it, because I'm required to do that. I will present evidence of structural ways that some American institutions promoted inequality, segregation, and economic exploitation. There's really not, pragmatically speaking, a lot of theory going on in most history classes.

We cover what happened and we look at causes and effects. We examine trends and changes over time. There's not a lot of time spent on abstract theories of historiography. Realistically, the victory I look for is getting them to do the readings and turn in their projects.

[sop]

9. These people want to teach creationism, the bible and force christian prayers in public schools,

yet the teaching of America's struggle with racism and inequality must be censored.

[moose65]

11. What a nightmare

I have many friends and family members who are public school teachers (I work at a community college). I can't imagine the stress this will put on them - just one disgruntled parent would be all it would take to end a career.

Thankfully, here in NC we have a Democratic governor who can stop this nonsense. They haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure it's coming!

The whole thing is a quagmire. What's the limit? Will they even be able to mention slavery? Jim Crow? Civil rights? The Trail of Tears?

Whew.

[dsc]

14. Don't forget that the Superintendent of Public Instruction

and the LT Gov who have seats on the state board are crazy GOPers. For now we are safe but we need to be vigilant.

[Baked Potato]

15. Republicans really know how to run a culture war. Nt