Linda Yoki

It is both embarrassing and abhorrent to me that members of a state legislative body would vote for censoring our United States history and banning points of view that may be different from their own. Among even the most esteemed historians discussion and debate exists, sometimes with no resolution and both parties agreeing to disagree. Students must have practice with these same skills to truly benefit from learning history in the first place.

How can a legislature vote to ban curricula? Who are they to decide what is history and what is not? Rescinding these laws that ban scholarly American points of view on racism and sexism is the only rectifying act that should be undertaken by states whose assemblies have enacted them. Remember: civil debate, discussion, negotiation, and compromise is how people of varied opinions settle issues!