Texas lawmaker wants to know which books on race and sexuality are in schools

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A Republican state lawmaker has launched a survey of school districts in Texas into the type of books they own, particularly if they relate to race or sexuality or “make students feel bad.” at ease ”.

State Representative Matt Krause, in his role as chairman of the House Committee on General Investigations, has informed the Texas Education Agency that he is “opening an investigation into the contents of the Texas school district,” according to a letter. of October 25 obtained by the Texas Tribune. .

Krause’s letter provides a 16-page list of about 850 book titles and asks districts if they have these books, how many copies they have, and how much money they spent on the books.

His list of titles includes bestsellers and winners, from the 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Confessions of Nat Turner” by William Styron and “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates to book club favorites. last year: “Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot” by Mikki Kendall and Isabel Wilkerson in “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents”.

But race isn’t the only thing on the committee chair’s list. Other books listed that Krause wants school districts to report on teenage pregnancy, abortion, and homosexuality, including “LGBT Families” by Leanne K. Currie-McGhee, “The Letter Q : Queer Writers’ Notes to Their Young Selves “edited by Sarah Moon, and” The Underground Guide to Teenage Sex: An Essential Handbook for Teens and Parents Today “by Michael J. Basso.

Krause, a Fort Worth lawmaker and founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, is running for state attorney general against Ken Paxton. Krause declined to comment and no explanation was given as to how these books were chosen.

Krause sent a notice of investigation to Lily Laux, the Texas Education Agency’s assistant commissioner of school programs, as well as some school principals in Texas. His letter did not specify which school districts Krause was investigating.

Krause advises districts that they must provide the committee with how many copies they have of each book, what part of campus these books are located in, and how much money schools have spent on the books, along with information. on any other book that violates House Bill 3979, the so-called “Critical Race Theory Law” designed to limit how race-related subjects are taught in public schools. Critical race theory, the idea that racism is ingrained in legal systems and not confined to individuals is an academic discipline taught at the university level. But it has become a common phrase used by conservatives to include anything race-related taught or discussed in public high schools.

The law states that a teacher cannot “demand or incorporate into a course” a range of race-related concepts, including ideas that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex. Or that someone is “inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive” based on their race or gender.

School officials have until November 12 to respond. It is not known what will happen to districts that have such books.

The letter did not give a specific reason why Krause was launching the investigation, only that “the committee may initiate inquiries into any” matter the committee deems necessary for the information of the Legislature or for the welfare. and the protection of the citizens of the state “.

Lake Travis Independent School District officials have received the letter and are trying to determine next steps, a spokesperson said. Officials from this Austin-area school district are talking to other school districts to determine what this means for them. In the neighboring independent school district of Round Rock, district spokesperson Jenny Caputo said by text that “it will take a long time for staff to put together the information necessary to meet this request.” The district legal team is still reviewing the request.

State Representative Victoria Neave D-Dallas, who is vice-chair of the committee, said she has no idea Krause is launching the investigation but believes it is a tactic of countryside. She discovered the letter after a school in her district informed her.

“His letter reflects the Republican Party’s attempt to dilute the voices of people of color,” she said.

Neave said she doesn’t know what Krause is trying to do, but will investigate the motive and next steps.

The TEA and the rest of the General Investigations Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Brandon Rottinghaus, professor of political science at the University of Houston, said it comes as no surprise that Krause has taken the lead on a conservative topic, especially since there are many in the race for the Texas Attorney General.

“He’s not well known statewide, so he has to lay a Tory flag high enough to get noticed,” Rottinghaus said. “As a political statement, it certainly sends the clear message that Republicans are watching.”

Rottinghaus said he can’t recall a time in recent memory when legislatures took on the role of investigating school districts.

“The follow-up to this is definitely a political statement and therefore the fact that the legislator is paying attention to it certainly implies that they are not going to give up on the issue,” he said.

Jim Walsh, a lawyer who often represents school districts, pointed out that there is nothing in the law that says the books must be taken down and that Krause’s investigation also does not require the books to be taken down. . For now, it is up to school districts to decide how they respond, but what is certain is that it will add more workload to schools in Texas which are already battling the effects of the pandemic.

Texas State Teachers Association president Ovidia Molina said in a statement that the investigation was a “witch hunt” and that nothing in state law gives lawmakers the right to prosecute educators.

“This is a clear attack on diversity and an attempt to score political points at the expense of our children’s education,” she said.

Krause’s investigation comes after several school districts across the state pulled books from libraries amid outcry from parents.

Earlier this month, the Carroll Independent School District council in Southlake berated a fourth-grade teacher who had an anti-racism book in her classroom after a parent complained about it last year.

Then, in a separate incident this month, a Carroll ISD administrator asked teachers to provide materials presenting an “opposing” perspective on the Holocaust in an effort to comply with HB 3979. The law , which contains little or no guidance, has caused confusion and fear among teachers and administrators, who have apparently misinterpreted the law.

In the Katy Independent School District, a school withdrew a book after parents claimed it promoted “Critical Race Theory,” which the district later deemed false and reinstated the book.

Disclosure: The Texas State Teachers Association and the University of Houston have financially supported The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial support plays no role in the journalism of the Tribune. Find a full list of them here.