Navigating these conversations takes courage, teachers and students say. And teachers are watching as attempts to foster inclusivity in their classrooms go punished. Meanwhile, vague laws passed in response to the ongoing culture wars threaten to chill candid conversations about history. Some conservative students feel like their political beliefs aren’t welcomed on campuses while their families are set on “taking back” school boards, fueled by a desire to expand parental rights and block students from learning about their interpretation of critical race theory. Educators are left to answer tough questions about history, race and sexuality, hyperaware their responses are under increased scrutiny. Many children are trying to be comfortable with who they are even as their identities come up for debate among adults.
