Do not shut doors on our education

As a student in Wallingford, near New Haven, I find it essential to write today pertaining to the education of anti-racism in the classroom. I hope that Commissioner of Education Dianna R. Wentzell can help guide our state’s education to its maximum potential.

As a nation, we are currently under attack on our rights to teach and discuss race and gender in our classrooms. State lawmakers have proposed bills to dismantle this essential education and nine states currently have laws or resolutions outlawing learning and talking about these important issues.

Students deserve a knowledgeable education about the tough history of our country, not one that is erased of the legacy of systemic discrimination against marginalized communities. Equal access to teach young people about the history of the United States is a racial justice issue.

In school, I’ve only been taught about the times where people have “solved” discrimination. I haven’t been taught enough about the struggles that people faced to get there, or how these issues are still in our society systemically today. The youth of this country aren’t weak. We aren’t blind. We have power. And we need education and understanding of Critical Race Theory. Because if we are educated, we could potentially have the power to shift the systemic oppression that too many people have faced since the start of this country.

Stripping us of essential education and discussion is stripping us of our rights. It’s keeping the doors closed to making a change.

Thank you,

Lily Hrazdira Wallingford