A South Carolina school district has halted the teaching of a lesson on the memoir of Ta-Nehisi Coates, a Black author. Following the decision, Coates attended a school board meeting to support the teacher of the aforementioned class.
Coates Attended to Show Solidarity Against Censorship
Despite attending the meeting, Coates did not speak. He was simply there to support Mary Wood – the English teacher responsible for the banned lesson. He sat by her side in solidarity. The memoir in question, 2015 best-seller Between the World and Me, contains stories about what it’s like to grow up Black in Baltimore.
Parents Didn’t Get This Book Banned
Unlike most stories that involve the banning of books, or lessons using certain books, parents aren’t responsible for getting this class halted. The lesson was banned after students wrote to the school board, claiming the class made them feel “uncomfortable” and “ashamed” to be White. It’s worth noting that the book hasn’t actually been banned; the lesson on the book has been stopped.
People Were Divided About the Issue
When news of the banning of Wood’s class broke, state and national educator groups claimed the teacher was censored. On the other hand, the Lexington County Republican Party suggested there should be even stricter rules and policies around what can be taught in public schools.
Budgeting Laws Led to the Ban
In South Carolina, there’s a state budget provision banning the use of state money for the teaching of certain subjects, including some ideas about race. This law, seemingly, is what led to the decision to ban Wood’s lesson. The chairman of the school’s English department, Tess Pratt, clarified that the school does not teach Critical Race Theory.
Pratt Expressed Solidarity With Wood
Pratt explained that she didn’t agree with the halting of the lesson. She said: “I became a high school English teacher because I believe that every human being has a story. I have dedicated my entire life to sharing such stories, both fiction and non-fiction, with my students. On the day that I took Ta-Nehisi Coates’ books out of the hands of Ms. Wood’s students, I silenced his story. Even though this was a decision that was not mine, I will regret that moment in front of those students for the rest of my life. It was wrong.”
The Issue Should’ve Been Brought to Teachers First
Rebecca Hines, the chair of the school board, said parents and students should report concerns about lessons to teachers first rather than the board. Members of Wood’s class had emailed complaints about the lesson to a school board member. Hines said: “If something happens in the classroom that upsets you about your child, talk to your teacher.”
The Situation Evoked Questions About Academic Freedom
The banning of Wood’s lesson prompted the district’s superintendent, Akil Ross, to highlight the importance of maintaining academic freedom. He said: “Academic freedom says, even if you disagree with it, there’ll be another opinion presented to our children. Our democracy needs that. We can’t handle differences – and I need academic freedom so that the next generation can.”
The Internet Erupted Into Debate
As is always the case when a story like this emerges, the internet discussed it thoroughly. The majority seemed to be on Wood’s side, though debate did ensue. One Redditor wrote: “This is the whole purpose of literature! To view the world from an unfamiliar perspective. And then to learn to debate and critically reflect on the credence of the work. And to examine one’s own reactions/feelings about that work, with curiosity about all of it! I hope this school district’s superintendent can prevent this book from being banned, but I’m not holding out much hope.”
Some Redditors Expressed Confusion
Several Redditors, having found no issues in the book after reading it, expressed confusion – especially individuals from outside the United States, where lessons like the one at hand can be common and non-controversial. Others tried to explain. One person said: “Having grown up in a conservative area, albeit as a White woman, I can assure you that people in these places hate anything that questions their White, Christian, flag-loving worldview. Anything that reminds them that not everyone thinks like them makes them deeply uncomfortable.”
Others Pointed Out the Hypocrisy
Many online commenters pointed out the hypocrisy of the far-right and some conservatives. One person said: “It blows my mind how conservatives have successfully labeled progressives as the snowflakes when they are the most irrationally fearful and easily triggered people on the planet. Systemic racism is simply reality. The only way to deal with it is to confront it and address it with common sense solutions. Instead, the Republican Party plugs their ears and accuses anyone who talks about it of being racist.”
Some Suggested Coates’ Memoir Wasn’t the Best Choice
Some online commenters, while supporting issues surrounding race being taught in the classroom, suggested that Coates’ memoir wasn’t a very good choice. One Redditor wrote: “I was made to read Between the World and Me in high school. I wish that hadn’t been the case, not because it made me feel bad for being White, but because I don’t think I really learned anything from it. To me, it just felt like a very long list of grievances and perceived slights. That said, if a teacher wants to teach it then they should be able to.”
A Minority Agreed With the Halting of the Class
While most online commenters defended Wood, a minority agreed with the halting of the lesson, they said that school should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or ashamed. Some claim teaching children about racism is indoctrination. Others said it needed to be taught but should be done in such a way as not to cause discomfort.
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