Schools to Teach Systemic Racism in American History - Regulation Alert
American History and Civics Education programs can play an important role in this critical effort by supporting teaching and learning that reflects the breadth and depth of our Nation's diverse history and the vital role of diversity in our Nation's democracy. For example, there is growing acknowledgement of the importance of including, in the teaching and learning of our country's history, both the consequences of slavery, and the significant contributions of Black Americans to our society. This acknowledgement is reflected, for example, in the New York Times' landmark “1619 Project” and in the resources of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History.
Opponents feel that the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that officials are preparing to use taxpayer money for K-12 schools to advocate the idea that America is systemically racist, and anyone who thinks differently, children included, are part of the problem, whether students know it or not. Comment Now
Submission of Public Comments:
Written or electronic comments must be submitted by May 19, 2021.
Online: The electronic Federal Docket Management System will accept comments prior to midnight eastern standard time at the end of that day. Comment Now
Mail or Hand Delivery to:
Mia Howerton
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Room 3C152
Washington, DC 20202.
Docket ID ED-2021-OESE-0033, please include the Docket ID at the top of your comments.
Further Reading
Purpose of Programs: The American History and Civics Education programs support efforts to improve: (1) The quality of American history, civics, and government education by educating students about the history and principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights; and (2) the quality of the teaching of American history, civics, and government in elementary schools and secondary schools, including the teaching of traditional American history.
The Academies program supports the establishment of: (1) Presidential Academies for the Teaching of American History and Civics that offer workshops for both veteran and new teachers to strengthen their knowledge of American history, civics, and government education (Presidential Academies); and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics that provide high school students opportunities to enrich their understanding of these subjects (Congressional Academies).
The Department recognizes that COVID-19—with its disproportionate impact on communities of color—and the ongoing national reckoning with systemic racism have highlighted the urgency of improving racial equity throughout our society, including in our education system. As Executive Order 13985 states: “Our country faces converging economic, health, and climate crises that have exposed and exacerbated inequities, while a historic movement for justice has highlighted the unbearable human costs of systemic racism. Our Nation deserves an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face.”
Accordingly, schools across the country are working to incorporate anti-racist practices into teaching and learning. As the scholar Ibram X. Kendi has expressed, “[a]n antiracist idea is any idea that suggests the racial groups are equals in all their apparent differences—that there is nothing right or wrong with any racial group. Antiracist ideas argue that racist policies are the cause of racial inequities.” [3] It is critical that the teaching of American history and civics creates learning experiences that validate and reflect the diversity, identities, histories, contributions, and experiences of all students.
In turn, racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically responsive teaching and learning practices contribute to what has been called an “identity-safe” learning environment. (Department of Education Proposed Rule)
In Opposition:
Jonathan Butcher - The Daily Signal: "The agency would prioritize grants that use critical theory, a worldview that says racism is everywhere and anyone who disagrees is oppressing other people. The Education Department’s announcement highlights The New York Times’ 1619 Project and civics content that the National Museum of African American History and Culture created as exemplary material for educators to use.
The Education Department’s proposal will drive ideas such as these into more classrooms and use taxpayer money to fund the effort. As Stanley Kurtz explains for National Review, federal initiatives such as this one are rarely isolated but reflect a presidential administration’s priorities.
Biden issued an executive order during his first week in office that is consistent with this latest proposal from the Education Department. If approved, the federal education agency’s new rule would ingrain critical theory in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the law governing federal actions on K-12 schools.
Washington is bringing critical theory’s prejudice to your child’s classroom, and whether or not you are a parent of a student, we all should reject the notion that the next generation should be trained in bigotry."
The Sutherland Institute: "In short, the proposed rule changes the priorities for awarding federal grants for K-12 American history and civics education. More specifically, the rule does so with the purpose of “support[ing] the development of culturally responsive teaching and learning and the promotion of information literacy skills.”
The background section of the rule explains that a major focus of this federal effort is addressing racism in America, which according to statements from the Biden administration is likely part of “an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda.” The background section says, “The Department recognizes that COVID–19 – with its disproportionate impact on communities of color – and the ongoing national reckoning with systemic racism have highlighted the urgency of improving racial equity throughout our society, including in our education system.”
According to some, this rule boils down to championing concepts of critical race theory, a controversial worldview which sees the world in terms of oppressors and the oppressed based on race."
Helpful Comment Information
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Overview
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