What is critical race theory? Is it being taught in Texas schools?
_fitted.jpeg "People spoke out in favor of a bill about critical race theory during a Fort Worth school board meeting in May.")
Texas public universities are now at the forefront of a battle against critical race theory.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposed ending tenure for new professors and revoking tenure for current professors if they teach critical race theory. That could affect what Texas college students learn about the history of racism in the U.S.
“We are not going to allow a handful of professors who do not represent the entire group to teach and indoctrinate students with critical race theory, that we are inherently racist as a nation,” he said Friday.
Patrick’s decision was in response to a nonbinding resolution approved by the University of Texas at Austin on Monday, which affirmed the university’s right to academic freedom in the research and teaching of race theory.
“This resolution affirms that educators, not politicians, should make decisions about teaching and learning, and supports the rights and academic freedom of faculty to design courses, curriculum, and pedagogy, and to conduct related scholarly research,” the resolution said. “More specifically, state legislative proposals seeking to limit teaching and discussions of racism and related issues have been proposed and enacted in several states, including Texas. This resolution affirms the fundamental rights of faculty to academic freedom in its broadest sense, inclusive of research and teaching of race and gender theory. “
What is critical race theory?
Critical race theory is a way of looking at race. It asks: Why does a pattern of inequalities still exist in the U.S.?
The school of thought posits that racism is systemic within American culture and institutions, and analyzes how racism affects those broad systems.
According to University of North Texas history lecturer Kerry Goldmann, critical race theory is “a theoretical framework that helps researchers look at how racial inequity has been built into American social systems over time, and how that inequity affects those social systems today,” Star-Telegram reporter Silas Allen previously reported.
“It contends that racism is structural — that is, that racism is built into American culture and entrenched in American institutions,” Star-Telegram reporter Emily Brindley reported in July.
What is the history of critical race theory?
Critical race theory can be traced back to the 1970s.
At that time, it was an intellectual movement that explained why the progress gained during the Civil Rights Movement had stalled or reversed over the decade that followed, Allen reported. It looked at how policies and social systems were set up in a way that disadvantages nonwhite people.
What is going on with CRT in Texas?
The effect of the CRT debate can be seen among school districts nationwide. Texas is one of 36 states restricting education on racism and race in an effort to abolish CRT, Chalkbeat reported.
The academic framework has not been taught in any Texas public schools — only in graduate-level courses.
In Fort Worth, it’s been a subject of fierce debate with residents repeatedly protesting at Fort Worth school board meetings in opposition of CRT. Most recently, Fort Worth parents in December packed a meeting asking the board to disband its racial equity committee, David Ramirez reported. For some opponents, critical race theory includes any work in classrooms that has to do with racial equity and inclusion.
Those against CRT believe it’s an expansive worldview that is racist against white children, and teaches Black and brown children to see themselves as victims.
Others, including parents, local leaders and educators, have disagreed with this argument.
“It’s really a frontal assault on the truth,” said Fort Worth pastor Michael Bell, Brindley reported. “So that they can inhibit any discussion on race, racism or discrimination. And it’s an attempt to whitewash, if you will, American history.”
Fort Worth resident Kerrie English said it isn’t possible to teach the history of the U.S. without teaching racism, Ramirez reported in December. “Truth matters,” she said. “If your children can love flawed people, and there are no kind of other people, then they can love a flawed country, and there’s no other kind of country.”
What state laws address critical race theory?
Despite Texas educators repeatedly saying they’re not teaching it, critical race theory has been an ongoing conflict within the Texas Capitol. The legislature passed two laws related to the teaching of critical race theory in Texas’ K-12 schools. They dictate how Texas teachers can talk about racism in the classroom.
House Bill 3979 (signed into law on June 15, 2021) was replaced with stricter legislation, Senate Bill 3 (signed into law on Sept. 17, 2021). According to the Brookings Institute, the updated law makes significant changes to civics education curriculum, mandates a new civics training program for teachers, requires that opposing viewpoints on controversial issues are presented, prohibits teaching certain concepts regarding race and sex, prohibits giving academic credit for social or political advocacy work and ensures parents have access to schools’ learning management systems.
The CRT law, which went into effect in December, bars instruction that contributes to students feeling “blame, or guilt for actions committed by other members of the same race or sex.” It also says that a “teacher may not be compelled to discuss a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs.” If they do, it must be “free from political bias.”
In late January, Gov. Greg Abbott promised on a campaign stop that he would introduce a “Parental Bill of Rights,” which would require districts and educators to post instructional materials online at the beginning of the semester.
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 5:40 PM.
