(NewsNation) — A new survey shows that 65% of teachers limit conversations about political or social issues, even those who don’t live in states that legally limit such discussions. Masu.
The 2023 American Teachers State Survey examined how state policies that restrict what teachers can discuss have a chilling effect on discussion in states that do not have such restrictions.
From April 2021 to January 2023, 18 states passed laws restricting classroom discussion of specific topics, such as race and gender. These topics have become political hot buttons for parents who object to the way their children are taught about race relations and learn about gender and sexuality in America.
Researchers found that two-thirds of K-12 public school teachers have decided to limit their own teaching on political and social issues. About half of teachers reported being limited by state, local, district, or school-level instructional content restrictions.
More than 80% of teachers who said they were subject to local restrictions decided to limit classroom conversation, and 55% of teachers who were not subject to restrictions also decided to limit the topics of classroom conversation. We have decided.
The reasons for limiting conversation were the same regardless of external restrictions. Teachers reported being afraid of upsetting parents and not knowing whether they would receive support from the school or district if parents filed a complaint.
Teachers also cited a lack of guidance from school and district leaders, along with fear of losing their jobs or licenses, as reasons for limiting conversations.