House Panel Critiques Critical Race Theory in Education

During a recent House Education Subcommittee hearing, Republican lawmakers criticized what they termed a 'woke' curriculum in schools, specifically targeting critical race theory (CRT). They argued that CRT, which they claim influences K-12 education, distorts American history and impacts students' self-identity. Democrats on the panel countered that CRT is not part of K-12 curricula and emphasized that the federal government has no authority to dictate educational content, which is determined by states and local districts. Some GOP members expressed concern over the focus on race-related ideologies in education rather than addressing learning losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. A Democrat representative, Jahana Hayes, noted her experience in education did not include CRT discussions, reinforcing the argument that it is primarily a legal theory taught at higher education levels. The debate highlights ongoing cultural conflicts regarding educational content in the U.S.