Texas guts 'woke civics'. Now kids can't engage in a key democratic process

[cbabe]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/01/texas-civics-students-democratic-participation

Texas guts ‘woke civics’. Now kids can’t engage in a key democratic process

Many states have restricted how schools can teach race and gender, but only Texas has banned student interaction with elected officials

Asher Lehrer-Small
Mon 1 May 2023 07.00 EDT

…

Since 2021, 18 states have passed laws restricting teachings on race and gender. But Texas is the only one nationwide to suppress students’ interactions with elected officials in class projects, according to researchers at the free expression advocacy group Pen America.

Practically overnight, a growing movement to engage Texas students in real-world civics lessons evaporated. Teachers canceled time-honored assignments, districts reversed expansion plans with a celebrated civics education provider and a bill promoting student civics projects that received bipartisan support in 2019 was suddenly dead in the water.

“By the time we got to 2021, civics was the latest weapon in the culture wars,” state representative James Talarico, sponsor of that now defunct bill, said.

…

Students are now banned from advocating for something like a stop sign in front of their school,” Talarico said.

…more…

(First amendment. Redress of grievances. ’They’ put them up, we knock them down. Expensive. Annoying. Tiresome.)

[Mad_Machine76]

1. First Amendment?

What First Amendment? Texas, Florida, and a whole lot of states are purposely stamping all over it nowadays

[exboyfil]

3. Not sure it is a 1st amendment violation

Given the students can still take advocacy positions - they just won't be completing an assignment to do it or receiving school credit for doing it.

[Mad_Machine76]

4. Well maybe not so much technically

Squashing academic opportunities seems wrong, though.

[exboyfil]

5. Agree totally with you

The law is horrible in so many ways. On the other hand I don't think it is helpful for students to be proxies for the political beliefs of their teachers. If that is a problem in the state, then the law should have been written so that assignments can be on any topic and the grading should be done of how well the advocacy is done - not what was being advocated.

[TheRealNorth]

9. Yup

They are taking away the right to petition your government if it is a Republican government. Freedom only exists for some people now.

[exboyfil]

2. Law should be advocacy neutral if such a law exists

The assignment is to contact and engage in advocacy, but on any topic in which the student wants to take a stand on.

If the student feels that the current Texas code and government operations are perfect, then the student should be required to write an essay on why they feel this way. Also if a student is prevented form engaging with legislators because of religious beliefs, then an essay should be done explaining those beliefs and the historic context surrounding them.

[sakabatou]

6. Repukes keep on walking down the fascist highway

[Timeflyer]

7. What an awful time to be a teacher or librarian. But it's a great time to sell guns!

[Freethinker65]

8. I actually agree schools/educators shouldn't be requiring letters to legislators for pet projects.

Just as schools/educators should not be requiring school prayer during the school day nor at school sponsored events, nor the posting of anyone's religious doctrine.

[cbabe]

10. We used to have students write to state legislators on a topic of their choice. Letter

writing encompasses a list of skills including how to address an envelope.

Advocating for a stop sign or nutritious lunches is good citizenship.

This law actively discourages civic engagement or even that it’s possible.

[Attilatheblond]

11. TX pols are terrified people might learn they have right to address their government

Time to build a bridge over that forsaken hell.