Over the past year, so critical
race theories become a political
term across the country and in the
Republican LED Texas Legislature.
So exactly what is CRT?
It's the core idea that racism isn't
the result of individual prejudice,
but also something embedded in
legal systems and policies. CRT
isn't taught in Texas public schools,
but lawmakers passed two critical
race theory bills earlier this year,
and now that the school year is in full
swing, the Cavi defenders checked in.
With teachers to see how the laws are
affecting their classrooms. Here's
investigative reporter Jenny Lee.
While the two laws became synonymous
with critical race theory or CRT,
neither uses that term, but both focus
on how teachers talk about racism,
history and current events.
And they've created a lot of confusion.
Talking about the power of art in
Miss Floyd's ethnic studies class,
if you did something about personal identity,
Bui high school juniors and
seniors in South Austin are
using art to study other topics
and we get a chance to dive
into both history and current
issues for the last 26 years,
Carlin Floyd has guided her students
through different discussions.
That was the first thing that we
did on day one, including House
Bill 3979. One of the so called CRT laws,
18 eyes and 13 nose for Bill finally passes.
My students can tell you
what the bill is. And
while Floyd isn't concerned about
how the law will impact her teaching,
I think if it brings attention.
To what matters to students.
It's great, others
are. My main reaction was frustration
kind of Murdock teaches social
studies among other subjects at
Travis High School in South Austin.
He says HP 3979 undermines teachers who
are already dealing with so much due
to challenges caused by the pandemic
and in a context where everything is
already like so close to the breaking
point to be told like and like jump
through a bunch of additional hoops.
Be very, very careful what you're doing.
Don't trust yourself.
About what's important knowledge you know?
Like that was difficult
in the Leander Independent
School District, teachers
feel attacked and
teachers are feeling overwhelmed.
Spokesperson Corey Ryan says
most of the teachers feel the
same as a result of the CRT laws.
He also points out that HP 3979 has
had a direct impact on the district's
curriculum for the 2021-2022 school year.
Third and 4th graders taken social
studies can't write a persuasive letter.
To their lawmakers,
like their classmates before them,
because HP 3979 doesn't allow teachers to
give class credit for that assignment,
they didn't get that opportunity in school
to write a letter to address something
that was really personal to them.
House Bill 3979 went into effect on
September 1st, but on December 2nd,
Senate Bill three takes over.
SB3 continues HB 3979 provision
that a teacher cannot be
compelled to discuss a currently
controversial issue of public policy.
But SB3 changes the requirement
for what a teacher must do if they
choose to discuss a controversial
topic instead of having to give
equal weight to all sides in any
controversy as required in HP 3979,
SB three states teachers shall explore
the topic objectively and in a
manner free from all political bias.
And, like HP 3979 S B3 doesn't
mention the term critical race theory,
but the law states a teacher.
Cannot require several concepts
in their courses,
including an individual because of
their race or sex bears responsibility
for actions committed in the past and
that slavery is anything other than
a deviation from American ideals.
Recognizing
the SP3 author. Senator Bryan Hughes defended
his bill when it passed in the summer.
Our classrooms should be places for
fostering a diverse and fact based
discussion of various perspectives.
They're not for for planting seeds for
a divisive political agenda. The laws
have caused teachers to
ask a lot of questions.
Jessica Joliffe is the director
of Humanities for Austin ISD. When
I'm studying reconstruction,
if we're saying that.
Jim Crow laws are in place because
they're promoting white supremacy,
and I violating the law,
jolliff says, what's concerning is the
reason behind the questions. I think
the danger in the pieces of legislation
is it causes enough pause or it can cause
enough pause in the part of teachers
in the part of school districts to ask,
should I engage in this perspective taking?
Should I share this particular resource?
That's not a concern for Keith
Long Walk. Getting Mojado is
one way that we fight white supremacy.
One way that we're anti racist educators.
Is the representation he's
a teacher at Dessel Middle School in the
Pflugerville Independent School District,
and even though he's a STEM teacher,
not a history or social studies,
one Gato Mojado makes it a point
to bring in underrepresented and
diverse voices in the classroom.
The 7th and 8th grade teacher says
he doesn't plan to stop despite
the passing of the new laws. This
bill isn't going to stop me from doing
that or shy away from why I do it.
Mr Guerra. Why is it that we learn about
women or learn about black or brown?
People in STEM and the reason is simply
because we want everyone to be represented.
And no, no SV3 isn't going
to stop us from doing that.
When asked about the new laws,
several school districts in the
Central Texas area referred to Teaks
or the Texas Essential Knowledge
and skills as a driving force of
their curriculum and what's in tikz
consume change thanks to the new laws,
they direct the State Board of Education
to add civic courses to teaks. All
of these subsequent bills and subsequent.
Sessions was meant to do one
thing and that was attacked.
Diversity, equity, inclusion attack,
honest and truthful conversations
in the classroom and attacked
teachers trying to have those
conversations with their students
at the time of this interview on a
Ramone was what the intercultural
Development Research Association.
The group fights equity issues and education
in conversations with students
and teachers and parents.
As recently as yesterday,
students already feeling that
and being told by their teachers.
We can't have
these conversations.
But what happens if an educator
teaches outside the parameters?
Of the new laws?
Well, Ramon says that's why teachers,
administrators and school districts and
advocates are all waiting on guidance
from the Texas Education Agency on
how to move forward with enforcement.
We contacted the TA several times
to try to get some answers.
We have yet to receive a response.
If you did something about US
identity going to come over here
back in Miss Floyd's ethnic studies class
underrepresented voices are present.
It's now a wait and see approach.
To figure out how the CRT laws will
affect the power of these voices for
the cvu defenders, I'm Jenni Lee.
Jenny, thank you if there's
something you'd like.
The K view defenders to investigate.
We'd love to hear from you.
You can text news tips to
the number on your screen,
512-459-9442.