As debates over how history should be presented in schools continue to heat up across the nation, conversations about new proposed laws continue to emerge that could significantly influence what students learn about America's past. Many argue that these laws would promote a more balanced view, while others warn that they risk erasing important parts of history from the classroom.
“Unfortunately, these issues and attempts to limit the telling of American history are not new,” U.S. history teacher William Hudgins said. “After the Civil War, there was a major attempt to rewrite the story of why the Civil War was fought and whether equal citizenship was owed to freed men and women.”
If these laws were approved and a teacher were to teach against these laws, there could be serious repercussions for the educator, like professional discipline, legal action or job loss. As a result, many feel like freedom of speech is truly getting lost in society.
“I had a lawmaker tell me that they realize it is nearly impossible to reach into a classroom and control what a teacher says in the process of teaching their lesson,” Hudgins said. “No part of the state government has time or resources to monitor that.”
Educators have been restricted to what they can and cannot post on their own social media pages as well. Recent events of Charlie Kirk's death have been popularized around the internet, and many people have been reposting their thoughts about this situation. Teachers, as well as other employees in other industries, have been getting fired if they post something that is seen as inappropriate about the situation.
“In today’s climate, educators need to use social media with caution,” Hudgins said. “This is especially true when tragic events happen. The Attorney General of the State of Indiana and his staff have a portal called “Eyes on Education” that is online where people can post so-called ‘evidence’ of teachers pushing an agenda they don’t like. Most of the submissions are teacher social media posts.”
America has shown many levels of silencing its citizens and ruining the First Amendment, not letting students learn about the United States of America's past, and even going as far as taking out art and materials in history museums and national parks so people can’t learn about it.
At least 14 states have started restricting what history teachers can teach in their classrooms. For example, in some cases, they have to mention important black figures without explaining the experiences of racism they went through.
Those who believe in restricting how history is taught in the classroom believe that it protects children from discomfort and creates national pride and unity.
According to many social studies and other teachers, however, learning about American history can be uncomfortable because of the horrid ways America has done things. It is taught so that history doesn't repeat itself.
“It is why I came to enjoy studying American history so much,” Hudgins said. “Fortunately, there are many great colleagues of mine here at Warren Central and across the state that are not letting this phase them. I never thought that getting in front of a class of students and teaching American history would be an act of resistance, but I guess that is how it is going to be in our current time.”