State GOP lawmakers try to limit teaching about race, racism

Teachers and professors in Idaho will be prevented from "indoctrinating" students on race. Oklahoma teachers will be prohibited from saying certain people are inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. Tennessee schools will risk losing state aid if their lessons include particular concepts about race and racism.

Educators and education groups are concerned that the proposals will have a chilling effect in the classroom and that students could be given a whitewashed version of the nation’s history. Teachers are also worried about possible repercussions if a student or parent complains. "Once we remove the option of teachers incorporating all parts of history, we’re basically silencing the voices of those who already feel oppressed," said Lakeisha Patterson, a third-grade English and social studies teacher who lives in Houston and worries about a bill under consideration in Texas.