Texas public schools will describe slavery as an involuntary transfer of second graders under proposed new social studies standards to the state board of education. A group of nine teachers presented the idea to the state board education According to the Texas Tribune, as part of Texas’ efforts to develop new social studies curricula. A once-in-a-decade process updates what children learn in the state’s nearly 8,900 public schools.
The board is considering changes to the curriculum after Texas passed legislation to eliminate subjects that make students feel uncomfortable from schools.
Board member Aicha Davis, a Democrat who represents Dallas and Fort Worth, raised concerns during a June 15 meeting that the term was not a fair representation of the slave trade. The board sent the draft back for revision, urging the teacher group to carefully examine the language used to describe the incidents.
I can’t say what his intention was, but it would not be acceptable, Davis told The Texas Tribune on Thursday.
Part of the proposed draft standards, obtained by the Texas Tribune, says that students should compare travel to the US, which includes voluntary Irish immigration and involuntary relocation of Africans during the colonial period.
Texas’ public education system has become heavily politicized in recent years, with lawmakers passing legislation to dictate how large sums of money should be poured into schools and conservative groups into school board races.
Texas drew attention for a similar situation in 2015, when a student saw words in a textbook describing slaves brought to the US as workers. The book’s publisher has apologized and promised to increase the number of textbook reviewers.
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