South Carolina GOP Banned Teaching About Systemic Racism

LOADING ERROR LOADING In February, as part of Black History Month, a high school teacher in South Carolina had to stop using Ta-Nehisi Coates’ memoir “Between the World and Me” in a lesson plan about systemic racism — because teachers are prohibited from making students feel uncomfortable about their race or gender in the state. Students complained after Mary Wood, who teaches Advanced Placement Language Arts at Chapin High School in Chapin, South Carolina, included the book in a lesson intended to guide students through participating in civil debate, local news outlet The State first reported. These videos portrayed an inaccurate description of life from past centuries that she is trying to resurface.” In 2021, South Carolina Republicans included a provision in the state budget stipulating that taxpayer dollars may not be used to teach lessons suggesting that any race or sex is inherently “racist, sexist, or oppressive whether consciously or unconsciously” or that cause anyone to feel “guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his race or sex.” “If the goal is to undermine public education, they’re doing a good job of it,” Wood said of the lawmakers who passed the policy. “I certainly didn’t want to use anything self-selected.” “If the goal is to undermine public education, they’re doing a good job of it.” - Mary Wood, high school teacher in South Carolina South Carolina’s policy that essentially bars teachers from teaching about certain topics is a disservice to students, Wood said, especially those who are supposed to be preparing for college.