Tennessee censorship laws directly affect children's ability to learn to read | Opinion
A decade ago, Tennessee led the nation with the largest student growth gains and for visionary postsecondary success reforms. Today, the nation’s eyes are on us for the wrong reasons. Tennessee was among the first states with an “anti-critical race theory” law. Now, we’ve passed more laws than any other state restricting what teachers can say and what students can learn.
Tennessee restricted curriculum with prohibited concepts, and passed laws to constrain libraries with vague “age-appropriate” regulations. This past legislative session, censorship efforts expanded to include themes related to implicit bias, student pronouns, parental consent, obscenity, and attacks on higher education.
Today, only 29% of Tennessee students read on grade level, as reflected in the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Nationally, only 14% of eighth graders are proficient in history and 22% in civics, a significant drop in light of censorship restrictions. Despite these alarming statistics, our legislature has chosen to focus instead on limiting access to rigorous, inclusive learning environments.
Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.
Schools have become political battlegrounds
The majority of Tennesseans do not agree with the direction of the Tennessee General Assembly. Polls show that most parents - regardless of political affiliation - believe censorship isn’t in children’s best interest, and most Tennesseans oppose book bans.
In 2017, I moved to Memphis to teach reading and social studies. I experienced challenges as a novice teacher. However, I did not worry about listing my books online, whether my lesson would be challenged, or if my license and school’s funding were at risk due to inclusive instruction.
My students were engaged when they saw themselves in materials that reflected their world. I vividly remember my first graders relating to Ruby Bridges’ bravery in an autobiography under scrutiny today. Student engagement has a direct effect on their ability to learn to read.
Censorship laws have turned schools into political battlegrounds, escalating chilling effects. One in four teachers are limiting discussions. Curriculum is challenged, educators are faced with additional burdens, LGTBQ+ books are being removed, school boards are overwhelmed, and districts are being sued.
I lead the Tennessee Coalition for Truth in Our Classrooms, a diverse group run by The Education Trust - Tennessee, who are dedicated to protecting our school communities, advocating for honest teaching, and mitigating censorship harm.
Censorship deepens systemic oppression in education by jeopardizing students’ right to learn, educators’ autonomy, and directly challenges the tenets of our democracy. When resources are threatened, historically underserved communities are most vulnerable. When multicultural stories are omitted, students of color are most harmed.
Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.
Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.
ACLU training will show what your rights are
Students will always have to navigate complex issues, critical conversations, and explore their identity in challenging moments. When students witness tragedies like Tyre Nichols’ murder, they count on educators to teach the historical implications. When students see two young legislators unjustly expelled for protesting gun violence, they want to learn about civics and the youth activism that helped reappoint them.
Our Coalition’s goal is to elevate the voices of the majority of Tennesseans who oppose censorship laws, and instead advance policies like the teaching of Black history and the Civil Rights Movement. We connect advocates, amplify stakeholder voices, and provide tools and resources.
Interested in learning more? Join our Coalition and attend our training with the ACLU-TN on June 7 for a Know Your Rights Training. Tennessee can lead the nation again on innovation and student success, but it will require us to refocus our priorities, so our graduates are equipped to lead in the complexity of our global society.
Meili Powell is advocacy and partnerships manager with The Education Trust – Tennessee.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee censorship laws affect children's ability to learn to read
