Photo by Laura Musikanski
Columbia Daily Tribune: JEFFERSON CITY — In the early weeks of a legislative session where K-12 education quickly emerged as a motivating issue, the Missouri Senate has found itself grappling with a contentious and vital question: How should schools teach and discuss race, gender and the "ugly parts" of U.S. history?
A Republican-led bill that would ban the teaching of "critical race theory" in schools, as well restrict teachers from teaching certain concepts relating to race, resulted in Democrats playing defense for hours on the Senate floor last week. Another GOP bill, which would ban school staff from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation with students, will receive a hearing this week.
The proposed measures have resulted in passionate committee meetings and a tense floor debate as the chamber's minority members decried the bills as attempts to censor difficult conversations about Black and LGBTQ+ history.