Texas Curriculum Under Fire for Leaving Out Slavery’s Role in U.S. History
A proposed Texas curriculum is drawing sharp criticism for omitting key historical details about slavery and racism, raising concerns about how U.S. history is being presented to young students.
One lesson, highlighted in a Texas Tribune report, focuses on Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s renowned estate celebrated for its French neoclassical design and Jefferson’s ingenuity. Students learn about its innovative pulley system for doors, a mechanical clock that tracked the days, and a dumbwaiter that transported meals from the kitchen to the dining room.
What the lesson leaves out, however, is a crucial aspect of Monticello’s history: the estate was built and sustained by the labor of enslaved people. Jefferson enslaved hundreds of individuals who lived and worked on the property, a reality critics say should not be overlooked in lessons about his legacy.
Advocates for a more inclusive curriculum argue that omitting these details deprives students of an accurate understanding of America’s history and the complexities of its founding figures.
“It’s essential that children learn the full truth, not just the parts that make us comfortable,” said one parent during public feedback on the curriculum.
Texas school districts get to decide which lesson plans they want to use, giving them flexibility. If the state’s new curriculum gets the green light, districts will still have the option to adopt it—or not.
However, the state is offering a $60-per-student incentive for those who do, which could be tempting as schools face tight budgets.
The State Board of Education is expected to vote this week on the reading and language arts materials.
