Texas Schools: The Debate Over Critical Race Theory and History

This report analyzes the contentious debate surrounding critical race theory (CRT) and its implications for education in Texas. The report examines legislation restricting how race, slavery, and history are taught, and the resulting impact on curriculum and classroom discussions. It explores the perspectives of various stakeholders, including educators, students, and lawmakers, and the proposed solutions to address the issues. The report highlights the government's role in shaping the debate and the arguments for and against CRT, emphasizing the need for strong anti-racist measures. The analysis concludes by assessing the impact of different proposed solutions on those affected by the policy, underscoring the importance of understanding systemic racism and fostering equality in education.

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Sur Name
Course
Date of Submission
Project No. 2
Identifying the issue.
A bill signed into law by Republicans restricts how race, Slavery, and history are taught
in Texas schools. Teachers are prohibited from discussing "a widely debated and currently
controversial issue of public policy or social affairs" under the so-called "critical race theory"
law. The law, which took effect on December 2, 2021, aims to keep "critical race theory" out of
Texas public schools. The law stipulates that each school must have at least one teacher and one
campus administrator complete civics training by the 2025-26 school year (Lopez). The law does
not define what constitutes a contentious issue. If teachers choose to discuss these issues, they
must "explore that topic objectively and without political bias."
Various groups have proposed solutions.
Different groups, including educational institutions, educators, and legislators, have
proposed various ideas, some of which have already been implemented in Texas, to address the
issue of race and slavery education. The Leander school district, for example, updated some of
its history curricula to include more perspectives and voices from women and Native Americans,
as well as Black, Asian, and Latino communities. In addition, the school district offers an
American Experience course that explores various cultural perspectives. According to students
and educators in the TEACH Coalition of advocates for teaching the history of racism, Slavery,

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and colonialism, the legislation has softened classroom debates in courses such as African
American Studies in other parts of Texas. Educators have expressed both concern and opposition
to the situation. The TEACH Coalition has kept up its fight against the laws, sending Attorney
General Ken Paxton a letter containing input from more than 80 students from across the state
(Lopez). A Republican lawmaker asked Paxton if "anti-racism" education in schools could be
unconstitutional. ".... Some educators are also continuing anti-racism discussions outside of the
classroom through organizations like the Austin-based Educators in Solidarity."
Students were engaged in these conversations, according to one of the students who did
not give her last name for fear of retaliation from her school district and community. They were
all learning from each other. She claimed that the discussion created a compassionate, safe
environment, but students haven't had any such talks since the bill's passage. This shows that
students from all over Texas want the subject to be taught and discussed in various institutions.
There have also been attempts to create new Native American and Asian American studies
courses. "Efforts in certain North Texas school districts to design new courses on Native
American and Asian American studies have halted as a result of concerns about the new rules,"
said a Democrat on the State Board of Education who represents parts of the Dallas area
(Fearnow).
The Government's Contribution to the Problem Solving
Texas has taken action to ensure that the issue is addressed by enacting legislation that
addresses how race, Slavery, and history are taught in Texas schools. The law passed the senate
and was delivered to the governor for signature. House Bill 3979, which compels the State Board
of Education to establish new teaching curriculum requirements about how Slavery and racial
subjugation are taught in social studies schools, was approved by the Senate on Saturday. Critical

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race theory is the academic idea that racism is integrated throughout America's history and that
any analysis of its systems should emphasize how white supremacy profited. Aside from
establishing the law, powerful advocacy is required to bring the issue to the public's attention.
The mere fact that the law has been passed does not imply that it will be immediately adopted by
those affected. Instead, the bill is likely to face substantial opposition from racists and their
supporters (Fearnow). As a result, despite adopting the bill, the government must engage in
widespread public outreach to demonstrate the importance of accepting the new law and the
benefits that would be realized if the policy is implemented in various educational institutions
and society. It is essential to underline that racism is a bygone period that must be entirely
abolished.
Why Should the Government Handle Critical Race Theory?
Critical Race Theory does not blame racism on individual white people or even large
groups of people. Defined, critical race theory asserts that racism is incorporated in-laws,
regulations, norms, and procedures in U.S. social institutions such as the criminal justice system,
education system, job market, housing market, and healthcare system, resulting in disparities in
outcomes on race. Many Americans cannot distinguish their identity as an American from the
social institutions that govern us; they see themselves as part of the system (Ray, Rashawn, and
Alexandra). As a result, many views calling societal institutions racist as a personal attack. It
demonstrates how intertwined normative racial ideology and American identity are for certain
people. Some acknowledge America's racial past but believe the false narrative that the United
States is now a just democracy. They refuse to see through the blind spot that hides that America
is still not perfect for everyone. There is a need to remove the notion from people's thoughts that
white people alive today have a moral obligation to do something about how racism continues to

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affect all of our lives. Policies that seek to smother this vital national dialogue are roadblocks to
achieving an egalitarian democracy. Supporters of CRT bans frequently use Martin Luther King
Jr.'s assertion that people should be judged on the content of their character rather than their skin
color, neglecting the quote's context and genuine meaning.
The Impact of Different Proposed Solutions on Those Affected by the Policy
The law is an essential foundation for understanding how systemic racism can perpetuate
discrimination and disadvantage for people who embrace Critical Race Theory. On the other
hand, opponents see it as a nefarious effort to indoctrinate young people to hate their country and
its history. One of the central arguments of critical race theory is that racism is endemic to
American culture due to the way the country is organized. Teaching with the framework
addresses topics that people have been attempting to solve for a long time to address some of our
classroom concerns. In a culture that is far from colorblind, we can't use colorblind philosophy.
Everyone notices it, whether they are aware of it or not (Zurcher).
Conclusion
It is past time for the various regional governments in the United States to enact strong
anti-racist measures. Racism has been a significant setback in American history for a long time.
The only way to end it is to implement rigorous and stringent regulations to foster equality
among millions of U.S. residents.

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Work Cited
Ray, Rashawn, and Alexandra Gibbons. "Why are states banning critical race theory?"
Brookings, July 14 (2021): 2021. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/07/02/why-are-
states-banning-critical-race-theory/.
Zurcher, Anthony. "Critical race theory: the concept dividing the U.S." BBC News (2021).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-57908808.
Brian Lopez." The Republican bill that limits how race, Slavery, and history are taught in Texas
schools becomes law" December 2 (2021): 2021.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/02/texas-critical-race-theory-law/.
Benjamin Fearnow. "Texas GOP Passes Bill to Ban Critical Race Theory, stop 'Blaming White
Children' for Slavery." May 22 (2021): 2021. https://www.newsweek.com/texas-gop-passes-bill-
ban-critical-race-theory-stop-blaming-white-children-slavery-1593923.
Brian Lopez." GOP bill targeting how race, Slavery, and history are taught in Texas schools
heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk." September 2 (2021):2021.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/02/texas-race-history-schools/.