School just started but the debate surrounding gender and race in classrooms is already at a fever pitch

CNN — It’s been only a few weeks since millions of children returned to America’s schools – but the debate surrounding the teaching of gender identity and race is already at a fever pitch. Backed by conservative lawmakers, the state’s “critical race theory” law took effect in December and prohibits teachers from discussing “a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs.” There have not been many policies put in place implementing the state law, Huddleston said, but some schools are taking action to decide what books and reading materials students should have access to. “Districts are targeting books based on the ideas that they contain, and keeping those books off the shelves violates the First Amendment and violates student’s rights to access a range of ideas,” said Huddleston who added that the ACLU of Texas has been sending letters to school officials that include an analysis of how they are not complying with federal law. Rick Bowmer/AP For more than a year, the meetings have been home to protests and long hours of public comments on diversity and equity plans, critical race theory and students’ access to “inappropriate content.” Complaints about certain books, including “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson often led to school officials ordering their removal. At a board meeting of the Granbury Independent School District last month, several people spoke during the public comment section asking for more books to be permanently removed from shelves and describing them as “inappropriate” or with the ability to damage students’ brains.