Nashville, TN, USA
On May 25, 2022, a coalition of Republican governors met in Nashville, Tennessee, to announce a new national initiative aimed at increasing parental control over school curricula and eliminating what they call “divisive” teachings, particularly critical race theory (CRT). The initiative, titled the “Parents First Education Reform,” is designed to provide parents with greater transparency and authority regarding their children’s education while pushing back against the teaching of race-based ideologies in schools.
Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee, who hosted the event, led the charge for the proposal, which seeks to ban the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 classrooms across the nation. Governor Lee has been a vocal critic of CRT, a concept that examines the ways in which race and racism intersect with law, economics, and other societal systems. According to Lee and other conservative leaders, CRT promotes division and presents a skewed view of American history that is harmful to children’s education.
“Critical race theory has no place in our schools,” Governor Lee said in his opening remarks. “We must teach students the full and honest history of our nation, not an ideology that divides and rewrites our past. Parents deserve to have a say in what their children are learning, and it’s time for the government to stop imposing radical curricula on our schools.”
Joining Governor Lee at the event were Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas, and Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, all of whom have introduced similar legislation in their respective states to restrict the teaching of CRT. DeSantis, whose state passed the controversial “Stop WOKE Act” in early 2022, stressed the importance of protecting children from what he described as left-wing indoctrination.
“Florida is leading the charge in making sure that our schools are teaching the values of our founding and not pushing political agendas,” DeSantis said. “Parents have a right to be involved in their children’s education and should not have to worry about them being exposed to divisive and politically charged content.”
The initiative also includes provisions to increase parental involvement in school decision-making, such as giving parents the right to review and challenge educational materials, attend school board meetings, and opt their children out of certain lessons related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and political ideologies.
While the bill has garnered overwhelming support from conservative parents’ organizations, many education experts and liberal lawmakers argue that banning CRT and restricting certain curriculum content is a form of censorship that harms educational diversity. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the initiative, claiming that it infringes on academic freedom and undermines the teaching of comprehensive history.
“This initiative represents an alarming attack on educators and the freedom to teach,” said a spokesperson for the ACLU. “By targeting critical race theory, these governors are effectively erasing important conversations about race and inequality from the classroom.”
Despite these criticisms, the Republican governors remain committed to advancing their agenda, with Lee emphasizing the need to return to a more traditional education model that prioritizes academic rigor over ideological messaging. As education policy remains a key battleground in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections, the success of this initiative could influence the future of education reform in states across the country.
