Some Texas elementary schoolers can not find out about Virginia’s historical past due to a … boob.
The Lamar Consolidated Impartial College District (LCISD) outdoors Houston eliminated a lesson on Virginia historical past from a web-based studying platform utilized by third to fifth graders because of the presence of a singular uncovered breast on Virginia’s official flag, as first reported by Axios.
The state flag depicts the toga-wearing Roman goddess Virtus with one uncovered breast, which LSCID leaders deemed violated coverage prohibiting “frontal nudity” in elementary faculty supplies, in keeping with info reviewed by Hyperallergic. The lesson’s removing has sparked concern amongst civil rights and First Modification organizations over a rising mandate for Texas faculties to ban sure academic supplies from libraries.
“Nudity on a state flag is an absurd justification to censor a history lesson,” American Civil Liberties Union of Texas Workers Legal professional Chloe Kempf advised Hyperallergic. “Texans are enduring attacks on our freedom to read at every level of government — from school boards, to the State House, to the White House.”
The incident recollects the controversial ousting of a Florida elementary faculty principal in 2023 after an artwork trainer confirmed a picture of Michelangelo’s well-known nude sculpture “David” (1501–4) to 11- and 12-year-olds.
A model of the Virginia state flag as designed by Charles Keck in 1931 (picture by way of WikiMedia)
Hosted by the educational platform PebbleGo Subsequent, the Virginia lesson included a module concerning the State Seal, adopted in 1776 on the state’s Constitutional Conference. The article explains that the seal depicts the Roman goddess Virtus stepping on a supine tyrant above the state motto “Sic Semper Tyrannis (Thus Always to Tyrants).”
In Virtus’s residence state, the “appropriateness” of the flag, which didn’t function the goddess’s nipple till 1901, has additionally been examined by faculty boards and native politicians.
PebbleGo supplies interactive nonfiction classes within the type of articles, movies, and maps for the practically 11,000 third by way of fifth graders within the district, in keeping with LCISD’s web site. To entry the educational platform, college students get hold of a username and password by way of a campus librarian.
Screenshot from LCISD’s response to Texas Freedom to Learn Mission’s public data inquiry (courtesy Texas Freedom to Learn Mission)
LCISD responded to the request on April 14, stating the district not solely shut down a module on Virginia historical past on November 25 because of “frontal nudity,” nevertheless it additionally deleted a lesson on “Family Types” as a result of the lesson violated a district-wide ban on supplies associated to “gender fluidity.”
In keeping with the Texas Freedom to Learn Mission, the college district amended its library supplies tips days earlier than the lesson was canceled to incorporate a coverage banning “visual depictions or illustrations of frontal nudity.” The up to date coverage was issued to adjust to a controversial legislation that has been used to justify guide bans, the group mentioned.
That legislation, the Limiting Express and Grownup-Designated Instructional Sources (READER) Act, also called HB 900, prohibits Texas public faculty libraries from buying or sustaining “obscene” and “pervasively vulgar” supplies. Critics of the legislation, enacted in September 2023, nonetheless, say the classes of banned content material included within the legislation are too broad and will notably have an effect on books addressing LGBTQ+ matters and discussions on race and racism.
“The sweeping and vague restrictions in bills like HB 900 can lead to government officials censoring books and ideas they don’t like,” Kempf advised Hyperallergic. “This is an abuse of power that violates our constitutional rights and weakens our ability to learn about ourselves and the world around us.”
Particular person faculty districts are taking it even additional, Russey advised Hyperallergic. In making an attempt to stick to HB 900, LCISD has not solely complied with the controversial legislation however has adopted even stricter tips.
In a single excessive case final 12 months, a Texas faculty district serving 11,000 college students recalled the whole textual content of the Bible in an try to adjust to HB 900. It was shortly reinstated after the district obtained “clarification” from Republican Texas Consultant Jared Patterson, who sponsored the invoice.
“Banning the Virginia state flag is likely not the intent of any lawmakers or local school board trustees, but this is the reality we find ourselves in,” Russey mentioned. “Texas parents who oppose book bans and censorship must speak up when they see problematic local policies and state laws, and advocate for reasonable, individual parent and student rights — not more government overreach and control.”
