It’s Time to Learn From History- A Broad-based Coalition Fighting Efforts that Censor Teachers, Distort History & Ban Race Conversations in Schools

With lawmakers in at least 28 states making efforts to force teachers to brush past important history and restrict conversations about race in schools, more than 2,500 students, parents, educators from around the country declared ‘enough’ Wednesday, helping to launch Learn from History – a nationwide nonpartisan coalition to protect accurate, thorough, and fact-based history in America’s classrooms. The group, comprised of educators, parents, students, historians, civic leaders, and others representing a broad bipartisan majority of Americans, will raise public awareness about the dangerous and inaccurate claims being made about school curriculums, how they are being taught, and the threat those claims pose to the rigor and integrity of our children’s education.

“Most people want our kids to get the facts in school, have age-appropriate conversations about our history, and learn that racism is wrong. They’re tired of the misinformation and don’t want children or teachers caught in the crossfire,” said  Suzanne Schreiber, a school board member in Tulsa, OK. Schreiber said schools in her district will move forward with plans to teach about the Tulsa race massacre of 1921 despite the recent passage of state legislation that sought to limit conversations about race in schools.

As part of the launch, Learn from History is:

• Providing first-person accounts of the harm and costs of efforts to restrict what is taught in classrooms across the country;

• Explaining the vital importance of students learning thorough, accurate, and fact-based history and that racism is wrong; and

• Educating parents and the public about what is actually taught in schools

The Learn from History coalition is sending a clear and public message: we’re filling a yawning gap to ensure this debate won’t be one-sided anymore. “As a parent, the idea of my children being denied an accurate, fact-based history makes me angry,” said Andrea Granieri, a mom from a Cincinnati suburb. “Efforts to censor teachers, omit history, or ban important conversations about race in our schools goes way too far. I know intimately how many parents stand with me on this issue, and we will continue to stand up for what’s right for our children.”

Leron McAdoo, a teacher at Little Rock Central High School where the national guard turned nine Black students away during the fight to integrate schools in 1957, said it’s critical that we give students the chance to learn from the past.

“We need to teach all of our history — both the good and the bad —  and we need to give our kids the chance to learn from it,” said McAdoo. “We can’t do that if we don’t talk about it. We can’t bring people together and heal divisions if we avoid conversations that make us uncomfortable.”

Americans who want to get involved in Learn From History or learn more, can text “TRUTH” to 67076 or visit LearnFromHistory.org.