A wave of new laws and regulations is restricting what teachers can say, and what school libraries can offer, addressing race and sexuality. They're being met by constitutional challenges asserting both students' and educators' free-speech rights. What constitutional constraints have the courts recognized when regulators try to dictate what students can hear, study and read in public schools and colleges? How are these polarizing ideological battles being felt in classrooms and libraries across the country?
May 05, 2022 RAPID RESPONSE
Curriculum in the Crosshairs: Race, Sexuality and Free Speech in Schools
Panelists:
- Tom Hutton, Interim Executive Director, Education Law Association
- Talia Richman, Education Lab Reporter, The Dallas Morning News
- Emerson Sykes, Senior Attorney, Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, American Civil Liberties Union
Moderator:
- Frank D. LoMonte, Co-Chair, Free Speech and Free Press Committee, ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice
Co-Sponsors: ABA Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice, ABA Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities, ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Resources
Presentations: Tom Hutton
Does Pico Still Go to School? Book Challenges and Diverse Classroom Libraries
Pamela Callahan, M.S., M.P.P., Ph.D. Candidate, and Joel Miller, Ph.D. Candidate
Recent Coverage from Dallas News:
Gov. Abbott signs Texas' anti-CRT bill
Gov. Abbott threatens criminal action over books
Analysis of which books are under fire
A look at one district's approach to book banning
ACLU warns a North Texas district that their book ban process violates First Amendment
Some trustees propose dramatic restrictions on conversations about race, gender
How this all might impact school board races
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