A California literature textbook is displayed with a diverse voice from a Dominican-American family, where Texas includes a quote from a Border Patrol agent. Photo fair use of The New York Times
Many young children possess an innocence that allows them to view their peers and mentors of different races, cultures and religions without bias. However, this positive outlook is often corrupted at young ages as students are exposed to biased content in the U.S. education system.
Everything we learn is taught to us. Whether that be simple, everyday tasks such as brushing our teeth, or larger processes such as learning to read and write, there has always been a figure providing information and instruction.
The United States’ youth is learning more about history, politics and current events every day. However, at such a young age, many children cannot understand the complexity of societal issues that continue to put a burden on our country, such as racism, gun control, climate change, homophobia and more.
Additionally, before kids can even develop a true awareness of these concerns, the bias is already formed through educational content.
“Two States. Eight Textbooks. Two American Stories.” is a story published by the New York Times on Jan. 12. In this in-depth article, a history textbook from California is compared to the same one from Texas, revealing gaps in information and lack of depth in certain sections. Due to the conservative political status of Texas, these books were manipulated to portray pro-gun control and subtly racist ideas to students.
Everyday, as I attend my history class, I expect to further my understanding of the world and country I live in while surrounded by equally-informed teenagers. This comprehension is vital because as the next generation, it is our job to acknowledge and combat these issues.
I can’t help but question whether I’m always hearing all of the relevant pieces of information. Am I obtaining the same information as a history student in the next state over? Are educators truly coming to terms with our country’s status enough to accept the current and previous issues haunting the United States?
Negligence of these concepts in education promote a culture that fails to recognize the history of various races, cultures and people.
The Black, Latino and Asian students deserve to hear the balanced, uncensored history and current events in our country. Not only will this be the first step towards embracing various cultures in the media, it will give the youth the freedom to cultivate their own beliefs and goals.
