Carlis is the chief learning and impact officer for Acelero, Inc., a national for-profit early learning organization. She is a public voices fellow for racial justice in early childhood with The OpEd Project and The National Black Child Development Institute.
In a brazen assault on the separation of church and state, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) recently mandated the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms. Not to be outdone, Oklahoma’s superintendent of schools directed all public schools to begin providing biblical education to students grades five through 12, effective immediately.
These thinly veiled attempts to impose Christian theology on a diverse student body are not only unconstitutional, they are deeply hypocritical. The same legislators making these demands are simultaneously working to require that teachers whitewash America's history of slavery and Jim Crow. If we are going to prominently display "Thou shalt not lie" in every classroom, shouldn't it apply first and foremost to the curriculum being taught inside those walls?
The hypocrisy of mandating religious displays while simultaneously requiring historical falsehoods is glaring. Apparently, Louisiana lawmakers believe some lies are okay. Untruths that preserve a genteel narrative palatable to white sensibilities are not just permissible, they may be required by law in their state now. History, while complex, need not be a source of shame. By confronting the darker chapters of our past — the brutal reality of slavery, the violence of segregation and the continued struggle for civil rights — we can equip our children with the knowledge to build a more just tomorrow.
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The cornerstone of a robust democracy is an informed citizenry. Yet, in Louisiana and across the country, lawmakers are pushing to sanitize the teaching of American history, particularly regarding America’s history of systemic racism. In its 2023 “State of Black America” report, the National Urban League identified 567 anti-critical-race-theory laws introduced in the United States. As of this year, 18 states have passed bans on teaching CRT and another nine have bills currently going through their legislatures. This misguided effort to shield students — primarily white students — from discomfort is a disservice to all and a danger to our collective future. Ignoring historical truths ensures we're doomed to repeat the mistakes of our past rather than learn from them.
This censorship robs students of the opportunity to understand the full scope of American resilience and progress. The story of America’s history of oppression is also a mosaic of resistance, reform and an ongoing fight for equality, by both white citizens and citizens of color. By obscuring this narrative, we deny students inspirational examples of American trailblazers who fought against injustice and changed the course of history.
Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus and catalyzed the Montgomery bus boycott, a spark that ignited the civil rights movement. John Brown, the white abolitionist, led an armed insurrection against slavery, ultimately giving his life for the cause of freedom. To erase their stories is to deprive our children of historical figures who exemplify the power we each have to shape our lives and change our world.
The purpose of education is not to make any one person or group comfortable, but to prepare all students to engage thoughtfully with the world as it is and to imagine what it can be. By teaching history in all its complexity, we give our children the tools to understand the present and shape a better future.
As we approach a critical election year, voters must prioritize educational integrity and vote for truth. We need leaders who understand that confronting our past honestly is not an act of national shame and self-flagellation, but a necessary step toward fulfilling our country's highest ideals of freedom and equality. Acknowledging our flaws doesn't diminish our greatness; it's a prerequisite for achieving it.
We must elect representatives who trust our children to grapple with complex truths and who believe in education’s ability to advance kindness, critical thinking and informed citizenship. Public schools should welcome students from all religious backgrounds (or none) and teach them the fullness of our history to see their promise and potential reflected in our nation’s past, present and future.
