How anti-CRT push unraveled support for local schools

By Javeria Salman

Title: "Understanding the Rise of Anti-CRT Sentiment: Impact on Trust in Education and Long-Term Consequences"

A recent peer-reviewed study by researchers from Michigan State University and the University at Albany sheds light on the emergence and consequences of the anti-Critical Race Theory (CRT) movement in school board meetings across the United States. The study, conducted by doctoral student Ariell Bertrand and her colleagues, focuses on the narratives that fueled the adoption of anti-CRT laws in 44 states and examines their lasting impact on community perceptions of teachers and schools.

The research utilizes the "narrative policy framework" to identify 11 key anti-CRT narrative plots circulating in the first 29 states that proposed bans. Conservative think tanks such as the Manhattan Institute and Heritage Foundation, along with groups like Moms for Liberty, played a crucial role in shaping these narratives. The study underscores how these narratives, particularly the notion that CRT indoctrinates children to feel guilty about their race, gained prominence and led to the introduction of over 140 anti-CRT laws or bans in K-12 education across 44 states since 2021.

Surveying Michigan adults in fall 2021, the researchers found that exposure to anti-CRT narratives eroded trust in local teachers. Those who heard these narratives were 59 percent more likely to support a CRT ban. The study challenges the typical pattern where Americans express strong support for local teachers and schools even if they hold unfavorable views about the nation's public education system.

The findings reveal a partisan and racial divide, with Republicans and white adults more likely to embrace anti-CRT narratives. The study suggests that these narratives have downstream effects, undermining support for public education and eroding trust in schools, even at the local level. As the focus shifts to issues like LGBTQ+ student rights and book banning, the researchers anticipate similar consequences on public education support.

The study is part of a broader research project examining changes in school board meetings since 2019, driven by national narratives around anti-CRT, anti-LGBTQ+, and related issues. The researchers highlight alterations in meeting dynamics, such as limiting open comment periods and enhancing security, which, while aimed at controlling heated discussions, have long-term implications for how the public engages with schools.

The researchers express concern that these narratives may have lasting repercussions on public education, leading to a distancing effect and potentially fueling misinformation. As misinformation spreads, the study suggests that the shared commitment to supporting education is waning, and the consequences might endure for generations.

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This summary was created with the assistance of AI software.