More than 60% of American parents want their kids to learn about the ongoing effects of slavery and racism as part of their K-12 education, according to a new USA TODAY/Ipsos poll.
But just half of parents support teaching critical race theory in schools – even though the theory’s main premise is that racism continues to permeate society. About 4 in 10 parents support restrictions on schools’ ability to teach critical race theory.
That disconnect underscores the heated feelings parents have about race-related conversations and how teachers should be handling that and other delicate topics. And, not surprisingly, the issue is firmly politicized: More than 8 in 10 Democrat parents believed their children should learn about the lingering impact of slavery and racism in schools, compared to fewer than 4 in 10 Republican parents, according to the poll’s findings.
