It’s time for student watchdogs to go to work
by Candace Bowen, MJE
It’s happening in Ohio – and 26 other states. Even if it’s not in yours yet, chances are it will be. And chances are it may also impact the kinds of stories your student journalists can write.
Under the guise of ensuring what’s taught in schools isn’t “divisive” or wouldn’t “sow unrest,” more than half the states in the U.S. have bills or other statewide policies that would limit discussion about racism and sexism and other topics.
“Journalism teachers need to look at the impact stifling classroom discussions could have on issues student journalists might also want to cover”
Without getting too political – apparently a difficult proposition with this topic – journalism teachers need to look at the impact stifling classroom discussions could have on issues student journalists might also want to cover. And students reporting for their school media would be wise to see what is happening in their state or city related to the topic and cover this timely news story.
Often “the topic” is framed as critical race theory, an academic concept that’s almost 50 years old but has recently caused an uproar when it comes to what’s taught in the classroom and how it impacts student learners.
According to a very thorough look at this issue in Education Week in May, 2021, “What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack?” author Stephen Sawchuk wrote, “Fundamentally, though, the disagreement springs from different conceptions of racism. CRT puts an emphasis on outcomes, not merely on individuals’ own beliefs, and it calls on these outcomes to be examined and rectified. Among lawyers, teachers, policymakers and the general public, there are many disagreements about how precisely to do those things, and to what extent race should be explicitly appealed to or referred to in the process.”
This disagreement in today’s volatile environment has led some state legislators and some school board members to apply overly broad “solutions” to the problem they perceive. For example, Ohio has two bills in the works — HB 322 and HB 327. Both prohibit the promotion, teaching, and training of “Divisive Concepts” across K-12, higher education and political subdivisions. HB 327 is a bit more specific: It prohibits “inculcation of Controversial Content Related to Race, Sex, Current Events.” Penalties are stiff – up to losing 100% of state funding and revoking licensure.
Imagine not covering those topics in a journalism class. Imagine avoiding any topic where there is disagreement? Isn’t that part of what journalists are supposed to do? Isn’t that why our students want to be able to use their voices and make a difference? Picture how your students could help solve issues of racism and sexism in their schools if they can’t even discuss the topic?
Ohio has two bills in the works — HB 322 and HB 327. Both prohibit the promotion, teaching, and training of “Divisive Concepts” across K-12, higher education and political subdivisions. HB 327 is a bit more specific: It prohibits “inculcation of Controversial Content Related to Race, Sex, Current Events.”
Candace Bowen
The first step can be finding out the situation in your state. Education Week has an effective – and frequently updated – interactive map with links to each state that has some kind of action going on. Also cover the school board and see what’s happening there. (Even if it’s nothing about this topic, surely student reporters can find some decisions that impact them.)
If journalism’s job is to be a watchdog on government, there’s never been a much better time to teach your students how to put that role in action and follow what is happening now that might make a big difference in their lives.
It’s not just state legislatures that need a watchful eye.
Also in Ohio, one mayor told the whole school board to resign because a book with prompts for a College Credit Plus writing class at the town’s high school included content the mayor claimed was child pornography.
It was not, according to the county prosecutor’s office, students didn’t even use those prompts, and parents had long ago signed waivers for students in the class, indicating they understood that college-level courses may include “adult themes and content.”
The National Coalition Against Censorship even wrote a letter to the mayor. The next board meeting had to be held in a larger venue, and the board got a standing ovation from local citizens at the next board meeting.