Texas education officials are looking at changing the way that slavery is taught to second graders. They propose replacing “slavery” in state standards with “involuntary relocate”.
Multiple “work groups” are responsible for creating curriculums for every grade and subject at the Texas Education Agency.
Aicha Davis, a board member, said that she wasn’t okay with the idea of “involuntary relocate” when the agency proposed it at the State Board of Education meeting. Davis posted a clip of the meeting to Facebook.
A viral post claims that the Texas Education Agency wants to change “Slavery” from “Involuntary Relocation” within Texas history standards. Unfortunately, that statement is not entirely true. The SBOE received the working document of social studies Work Group D. This group reviewed elementary and secondary school TEKS during our last meeting. The group suggested that 2nd grade introduce the African journey to America using the phrase “involuntary relocate”. I wasn’t happy with this suggestion and discussed it with TEA staff. The Work Groups were directed to continue discussions about appropriate terminology and language, and the SBOE would begin readings in Fall.
In the caption, she stated that a viral video claims the Texas Education Agency wants to change the word “Slavery” to “Involuntary Relocation” in Texas history standards. That statement is not entirely false.
Davis asked Davis about the proposed changes during the meeting. Davis stated that he didn’t know if this was a fair representation about what should be said about the journey.
Davis was told by a member of the agency that the work group that created this language had discussed “what would make sense for second graders”, while acknowledging that there are ideas that should be addressed from kindergarten through eighth grade.
“They looked at trade books and were discussing how to explain to second graders the fact that many people came to this country in different ways. Some were voluntary, some not. The agency member stated that the best way to deal with this was by focusing on what they were experiencing.
Davis stated that the work groups were directed to continue discussions about appropriate terminology and language.
Pat Hardy, a board member, wrote to CBS News that the presentation was an “initial draft of 2nd Grade Social Studies Standards from a review panel that included a section entitled: ‘Enslaved Peoples In America’.”
Hardy stated that while the standards were clear about enslaved persons in colonial times and the draft description of ‘involuntary relocate’ for Africans who were sold into slavery didn’t paint a complete picture. The SBOE unanimously voted to send the language back for revision. This board is committed the truth which includes accurate descriptions historical events.
“Our state’s curriculum won’t downplay slavery’s role in American history.”
Despite this, the proposal was widely shared and condemned by many. The proposal was criticized by Iro Omere (Democratic candidate for Congress in Texas’ 4th District),
Omere stated in a statement to CBS News that “it is shameful that the Texas Education Agency would be this far to change the way we teach children history of our country.” “Children are taught that the Civil War began because of a conflict of states’ rights. The idea of’slavery’ being changed to involuntary relocation’ is a insult to the generations of people who were forced into slavery, and their descendants who have suffered the effects of racism.
Omere stated that “we have reached the point now where we must hold Texas Education Agency (State Board of Education) accountable for the deliberate miseducation of Texan kids.”
This controversial proposal is coming after several Republican-led states like Texas passed or considered laws banning “divisive topics” being discussed at schools. Some states wanted to ban critical race theory. This theory is taught at college and provides a framework for understanding how racism is reinforced in U.S. culture and law. It is not known whether critical race theory is taught at K-12 schools.
Texas’s new law prohibits teachers from discussing the notion that “one race, or sex, is inherently superior to the other.” Texas Governor. Greg Abbott asked Texas schools to examine any materials that students might find inappropriate.
In a recent letter, Kevin Ellis, the Chair of the State Board of Education, assured Abbott that the board was reviewing textbooks and that the legislature gave the board the authority to reject instructional materials not “suitable for grade level.”
Davis stated that the board has until the end the year for their review of social studies curriculum.
