Should Critical Race Theory Be Taught In K-12 Schools

According to a recent report by the SPLC, 92% of high school students have failed to identify slavery as the main reason for the Civil War, and about 70% were not aware that the Thirteenth Amendment, not the Emancipation Proclamation, ended slavery in the United States (Points Of View Overview). How can Americans hope for a prosperous and truly free future if this is the extent of the knowledge of the next generation? Unfortunately, this is the result of biased education. Prejudiced and censored curriculums in America’s K-12 schools blur minority history and blind students to how race intertwines with society in the name of patriotism and tradition. Critical Race Theory should be implemented in K -12 schools because education about race allows

By definition, the Critical Race Theory (CRT) Movement is described as a school of thinking that is committed to “transforming the relationship between race, racism, and power,” (Delgado et al. page number). Comparably, Helen Pluckrose et.al, a prominent European activist and author, states that “CRT holds that race is a social construct that was created to maintain white privilege and white supremacy,” (Pluckrose et.al 21). Like other civil movements, Critical Race Theory aims for equity, no matter one’s race. However, the movement includes other topics such as economics, emotions, and history and how they influence race in society. Since Critical Race Theory has surfaced, it has been surrounded by controversy. Opponents to the theory, namely white Republican politicians, have claimed the theory is paranoid, unpatriotic, and uncomfortable. In reality, Critical Race Theory highlights minorities and their struggles, explores the inherent relationship between race and power, and promotes equity and cultural awareness. According to Richard Delgado et al., authors of Critical Race Theory: An Introduction, there are three basic tenets of Critical Race