Episode 144: Teaching in a Time of Division

Public school teaching has never been easy, but the willingness of some lawmakers to crack down on what is taught is unprecedented in recent memory. In Texas, there are signs that lawmakers are ready to follow in the footsteps of Florida, where public school teachers and librarians are now subject to restrictions on books that teach about race, sexual orientation and gender identity. To help us understand what teachers are going through, we talk to Nelva Williamson, an AP African American Studies teacher for Houston Independent School District; and Jesus Sosa, who teaches social studies for Richardson Independent School District. Public school teaching has never been easy, but the willingness of some lawmakers to crack down on what is taught is unprecedented in recent memory. In Texas, there are signs that lawmakers are ready to follow in the footsteps of Florida, where public school teachers and librarians are now subject to restrictions on books that teach about race, sexual orientation and gender identity. To help us understand what teachers are going through, we talk to Nelva Williamson, an AP African American Studies teacher for Houston Independent School District; and Jesus Sosa, who teaches social studies for Richardson Independent School District. Related Links: Mental Health in Schools https://hogg.utexas.edu/podcast-mental-health-schools On the Defensive: How Policy Changes Affect Queer Mental Health https://hogg.utexas.edu/podcast-policy-changes-queer-mental-health Op Ed: Safe and supportive schools for every Texas student https://hogg.utexas.edu/op-ed-safe-and-supportive-schools-for-every-texas-student Op-ed: Uproar over critical race theory should not threaten mental health in schools https://hogg.utexas.edu/critical-race-theory-mental-health-in-schools