A new study from the University of Texas at Austin shows that white elementary-school children have more positive views of blacks when their lessons include information about historical racism and segregation. The press release says the study "challeng[es] the idea that racism education could be harmful..
A new study from the University of Texas at Austin shows that white elementary-school children have more positive views of blacks when their lessons include information about historical racism and segregation. The press release says the study "challeng[es] the idea that racism education could be harmful to students."
We didn't know there was such an idea. The argument would probably be that children under 11 don't have the refined understanding you'd need to productively digest these moral complexities. We're not really buying that though. The reality of slavery isn't actually all that complex. One group exploits another for economic gain, etc. Kids can grasp that.
One could also argue, of course, that the historical context of racism and segregation is true, and that's another solid reason for teaching it.
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