Accuracy in Media, a nonprofit media watchdog, has released a video that allegedly shows attorneys from a prominent Texas law firm advising school administrators on how to bypass a state law banning the promotion of critical race theory. The video, obtained by Accuracy in Media’s investigative journalism team, features attorneys from Thompson & Horton LLP giving a presentation at the Texas Association of School Boards conference in Dallas. In the video, the attorneys explain how teachers can work around the law that prohibits the teaching of critical race theory.
The lawyers clarify that while Senate Bill 3 prohibits teachers or school districts from requiring an understanding of the 1619 Project, it does not prohibit students from choosing to do assignments related to it or teachers from including it among a selection of books for students to choose from. They also mention that teachers using state board of education materials have a safe harbor from disciplinary proceedings related to inappropriate content concerns.
The 1619 Project, founded by Nikole Hannah-Jones of the New York Times Magazine, has become a prominent critical race theory curriculum, but it has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for its alleged historical inaccuracies.
Adam Guillette, president of Accuracy in Media, claims that the law firm is teaching administrators how to “lie to parents” and “indoctrinate kids,” and that administrators across the country are disregarding efforts to ban critical race theory. Guillette argues that laws banning critical race theory have had zero impact and expresses concern that politicians either appease voters or are unaware that the laws are being ignored.
Accuracy in Media has previously released videos from Corpus Christi, Texas, showing an administrator admitting to promoting the 1619 Project despite the ban. The organization believes that administrators are committed to pushing critical race theory principles regardless of the law.
Thompson & Horton LLP, in a statement, said that their presentation focused on explaining Senate Bill 3 and how schools can remain in compliance. They emphasize that they do not endorse or encourage actions that would circumvent laws and that their objective is to provide accurate information and guidance to Texas educators.
The Texas Association of School Boards, in response to the video, claims that short snippets were taken out of context and edited to push a specific agenda. They argue that the video misrepresents what the school law experts were discussing.
Accuracy in Media believes that administrators are deceiving parents and calls for transparency. They have investigated over 250 school districts across the country and consider the situation in Texas to be one of the worst they have encountered.
This article was written by Andrew Mark Miller, a reporter at Digital.
