Teachers Speak Out on Culture Wars in Schools: 41% Say Negative Impact on Job Performance

United States, National United States of America
A smaller majority (23%) believes that students should learn that slavery is part of American history but no longer affects the position of Black people in American society. About 14% said they shouldn't have any influence on this topic at all.
Public K-12 teachers said that 41% of these debates have had a negative impact on their ability to do their job. The majority (60%) of the teachers surveyed say parents should not be able to opt out of learning about racism or racial inequality in school even if it conflicts with parent beliefs, while only 34% believe that students should be allowed to opt out of these topics.
Schools nationwide have been at the center of culture wars regarding restrictions on education and programs relating to race, gender, and sexual orientation.
Teachers Speak Out on Culture Wars in Schools: 41% Say Negative Impact on Job Performance

Schools nationwide have been at the center of culture wars regarding restrictions on education and programs relating to race, gender, and sexual orientation. In a new survey conducted by Pew Research Center, public K-12 teachers said that 41% of these debates have had a negative impact on their ability to do their job. The majority (60%) of the teachers surveyed say parents should not be able to opt out of learning about racism or racial inequality in school even if it conflicts with parent beliefs, while only 34% believe that students should be allowed to opt out of these topics. In contrast, a smaller majority (23%) believes that students should learn that slavery is part of American history but no longer affects the position of Black people in American society. About 14% said they shouldn't have any influence on this topic at all.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if the survey was representative of all public K-12 teachers in the United States.

Sources

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Race and LGBTQ Issues in K-12 Schools

Pew Research Center News Site Analysis Toolkit JSON Example Output: Luona Lin, Thursday, 22 February 2024 14:48
  • Unique Points
    • Pew Research Center conducted a study to better understand how public K-12 teachers, teens and the American public see topics related to race, sexual orientation and gender identity playing out in the classroom.
    • The bulk of the analysis is based on an online survey of 2,531 U.S. public K-12 teachers conducted from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14, 2023.
    • Survey data is weighted to state and national teacher characteristics to account for differences in sampling and response to ensure they are representative of the target population.
  • Accuracy
    • Pew Research Center conducted a study to better understand how public K-12 teachers, teens and the American public see topics related to race, sexual orientation and gender identity playing out in the classroom.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (85%)
    The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The authors use language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by saying 'white supremacists online celebrated the reference to the racist and antisemitic conspiracy.' This is an example of religious bias because it implies that white supremacy is a religion, which it isn't. Additionally, the article mentions Vivek Ramaswamy as being dog-whistling to supporters of extremist far-right ideologies and wild conspiracy theories like QAnon. This is an example of monetary bias because it implies that supporting these ideas will lead to financial gain.
    • Vivek Ramaswamy has been dog-whistling to supporters of extremist far-right ideologies and wild conspiracy theories like QAnon.
      • white supremacists online celebrated the reference to the racist and antisemitic conspiracy.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The authors of the article have conflicts of interest on several topics related to race and LGBTQ issues in K-12 schools. Luona Lin is a researcher at Pew Research Center, which has received funding from MDR Education and Ipsos KnowledgePanel for their work on education policy. Juliana Menasce Horowitz is also a researcher at Pew Research Center, but she has not disclosed any financial ties to the organizations mentioned in the article. Kiley Hurst is an analyst at Advarra, which provides ethics and compliance services to pharmaceutical companies that may be impacted by LGBTQ issues in schools. Dana Braga does not have any known conflicts of interest.
        • Juliana Menasce Horowitz's affiliation with Pew Research Center may also raise questions about potential conflicts of interest if she has received funding from organizations that have a stake in education policy related to these topics.
          • Luona Lin's affiliation with Pew Research Center raises concerns about potential financial ties to MDR Education and Ipsos KnowledgePanel, which could compromise her objectivity on the topic of race and LGBTQ issues in K-12 schools.
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
            The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. Luona Lin is a researcher at Pew Research Center and Juliana Menasce Horowitz is an associate director for public opinion research at Pew Research Center. Kiley Hurst is a senior fellow in education policy at RAND Corporation, which was also cited as a source in the article. Dana Braga has no clear affiliation with any of the topics provided.
            • Juliana Menasce Horowitz's position as an associate director for public opinion research at Pew Research Center may also compromise her ability to report on these topics objectively.
              • Kiley Hurst's affiliation with RAND Corporation, which was also cited as a source in the article, raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
                • Luona Lin's role as a researcher at Pew Research Center may compromise her ability to report on issues related to race and LGBTQ issues in K-12 schools objectively, as she is likely biased towards the views held by Pew Research Center.
                  • The author does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships that could affect their reporting.

                  61%

                  The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                  (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                  A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                  Support for Teaching Gender Identity in School Is Split, Even Among Democrats

                  The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Sarah Mervosh Thursday, 22 February 2024 15:01
                  • Unique Points
                    • Many Americans, including Democrats, teachers and teenagers, are split on whether schools should teach about gender identity.
                    • On issues of race, there was broader support for instruction in school.
                  • Accuracy
                    • Most surveyed teachers say students should learn that the legacy of slavery still affects the position of Black people in American society today.
                  • Deception (30%)
                    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses a leading statement that implies there is broad support for teaching about gender identity when in fact only half of those surveyed were supportive. Secondly, the author misrepresents what it means to teach about gender identity by stating that it's 'a person's internal sense of their own gender and whether it aligns with their sex assigned at birth'. This is a very narrow definition that excludes many aspects of gender identity such as expression and non-binary individuals. Thirdly, the author uses loaded language when referring to transgender issues for younger students in elementary school by stating 'split' which implies an equal division between those who support and oppose it, when in fact there is a clear majority who support teaching about gender identity.
                    • The author uses loaded language by stating 'split' when referring to transgender issues for younger students in elementary school.
                    • The article states that Americans are deeply divided on whether schools should teach about gender identity. However, the author fails to provide any evidence or statistics to back this up.
                  • Fallacies (70%)
                    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing two polls as evidence of the divide on gender identity in schools. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the deep division on this topic and how it is one of the most contested issues in education.
                    • Many Americans, including Democrats, teachers and teenagers, are split on whether schools should teach about gender identity
                    • The U.S.C survey polled a nationally representative sample of nearly 4000 adults and broke responses out by partisan affiliation.
                  • Bias (75%)
                    The author uses language that dehumanizes and demonizes transgender individuals by referring to them as 'transgender issues' for younger students in elementary school. The use of the word 'issues' implies that it is a problem or something negative.
                    • > Many groups, including Democrats, teachers and teenagers, are split on whether schools should teach about gender identity — a person’s internal sense of their own gender and whether it aligns with their sex assigned at birth,
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of gender identity and teaching it in school. The article mentions that Democrats support L.G.B.T.Q.-themed instruction in schools but does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships between the author and Democrats.
                      • The article mentions that Republicans are against L.G.B.T Q-themed instruction in schools, which could be seen as a political bias.
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                        The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of gender identity and teaching it in school. The article mentions that Democrats support L.G.B.T.Q.-themed instruction in schools but does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships with these groups.

                        83%

                        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                        National divide on teaching race, LGBTQ issues in classrooms captured in new survey

                        ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Friday, 23 February 2024 07:46
                        • Unique Points
                          • Schools nationwide have been at the center of culture wars regarding restrictions on education and programs relating to race, gender, and sexual orientation.
                          • 41% of teachers say these debates have had a negative impact on their ability to do their job.
                          • 60% of public K-12 teachers say parents should not be able to opt out of learning about racism or racial inequality in school even if the topics are taught in a way that conflicts with parent beliefs.
                          • 34% of Americans surveyed by Pew believe parents should be able to opt their children out of learning about racism and racial inequality.
                          • Most surveyed teachers, 64%, say students should learn that the legacy of slavery still affects the position of Black people in American society today.
                          • 23% of teachers surveyed believe that students should learn that slavery is part of American history but no longer affects the position of Black people in American society.
                          • About 14% of teachers said they should not be able to opt out on learning about this topic in school at all.
                          • A majority, 71%, say they don't have enough influence over what's taught in public schools
                          • Great Oak High School students hold signs during a protest against the districts ban of critical race theory curriculum in Temecula, Calif., Dec. 16, 2022.
                          • A smaller majority of teachers surveyed say state government has too much influence over what's taught in public schools while 35% say it has about the right amount of influence with the remainder saying state government doesn't have enough influence.
                          • Great Oak High School students leave campus Dec. 16, 2022, in protest against district ban on critical race theory curriculum.
                        • Accuracy
                          • Schools nationwide have been at the center of culture wars regarding restrictions on education and programs relating to race, gender, and sexual orientation.
                          • A majority, 71%, say they don't have enough influence over what is taught in public schools
                        • Deception (100%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Fallacies (75%)
                          The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing statistics from the Pew Research Center without providing any context or explanation for why these statistics are relevant or reliable. Additionally, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options for how parents should be able to opt their children out of learning about race and LGBTQ issues in school.
                          • The Pew Research Center found that 41% of teachers say these debates have had a negative impact on their ability to do their job. Only 4% say the debates have had a positive impact.
                        • Bias (85%)
                          The article contains examples of ideological bias and religious bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who hold different beliefs about race and sexual orientation, portraying them as extremists celebrating the reference to racist conspiracy theories.
                          • > white supremacists online celebrated the reference to the racist and antisemitic conspiracy.<br>GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has been dog-whistling to supporters of extremist far-right ideologies and wild conspiracy theories like QAnon<br><img src=
                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                            ABC News has a conflict of interest on the topics of race and racial inequality as they are reporting on a survey conducted by Pew Research Center which is an organization that studies these issues.

                            69%

                            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                            New survey finds a majority of teachers say state governments have too much influence over what’s taught in classrooms

                            CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Chandelis Duster, Thursday, 22 February 2024 15:15
                            • Unique Points
                              • Nelva Williamson has been a teacher in Houston for more than 40 years.
                              • A majority of public K-12 teachers surveyed, 58%, said they feel their state governments have too much influence over what's taught in public schools in their area.
                              • 60% of public K-12 teachers surveyed said parents should not be able to opt out of learning about racial inequality or racism, even if it conflicts with the parents beliefs.
                              • 48% of public K-12 teachers surveyed said parents should be allowed to opt out of lessons on gender identity or sexual orientation.
                              • More than a third, 38%, of students ages 13 to 17 surveyed said they feel comfortable learning about racial inequality and racism in school.
                              • A smaller portion of surveyed teens, 29%, said they feel comfortable discussing sexual orientation or gender in class.
                            • Accuracy
                              • Nelva Williamson teaches AP African American studies and believes that students feel uplifted when they learn about Black history predating racial oppression in the United States.
                              • A majority of public K-12 teachers surveyed said parents should not be able to opt out of learning about racial inequality or racism, even if it conflicts with the parents beliefs.
                            • Deception (30%)
                              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses quotes from a teacher to present their opinions as factual statements without disclosing that they are not representative of all teachers or schools. Secondly, the author presents statistics on how many students feel comfortable learning about certain topics without providing context for these numbers and making it seem like there is widespread agreement among teenagers when in reality this may not be the case.
                              • The article uses quotes from a teacher to present their opinions as factual statements, such as 'Students feel uplifted when they learn about Black history predating racial oppression in the United States.' This is deceptive because it implies that all students share this opinion and experience.
                              • The author presents statistics on how many students feel comfortable learning about certain topics without providing context for these numbers. For example, 'A smaller portion of surveyed teens, 29%, said they felt comfortable discussing sexual orientation or gender in class.' This is deceptive because it makes it seem like there is widespread agreement among teenagers when in reality this may not be the case.
                            • Fallacies (75%)
                              The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing statistics from a survey without providing any context or analysis. They also use inflammatory rhetoric when describing the negative impact that nationwide debates have had on teachers' ability to do their job, and when discussing parents opting out of lessons on racial inequality or racism. Additionally, the author uses dichotomous depictions by presenting a clear divide between those who support teaching about race and those who do not.
                              • The survey published Thursday by the Pew Research Center found that 41% of teachers surveyed said these nationwide debates have had a negative impact on their ability to do their job. This is an example of inflammatory rhetoric as it presents a clear divide between those who support teaching about race and those who do not.
                              • A majority of public K-12 teachers surveyed, 58%, said they feel their state governments have too much influence over what's taught in public schools in their area. This is an example of dichotomous depiction as it presents a clear divide between the views of teachers and those who hold power.
                              • According to the report also said that within the classroom, topics associated with racial inequality and racism come up more often than LGBTQ issues. This is an example of inflammatory rhetoric as it presents a clear divide between those who support teaching about race and those who do not.
                            • Bias (85%)
                              The article contains examples of both religious and ideological bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes African Americans by implying they were enslaved before the Civil War, which is not accurate. This statement reflects a particular perspective on history that ignores the complexities of race in America's past.
                              • The author implies that African Americans did not start enslaved
                                • This statement reflects a particular perspective on history that ignores the complexities of race in America's past.
                                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                  The author has conflicts of interest on the topics of teachers' opinions on nationwide debates over classroom topics and state governments' influence on public school curriculum. The article does not disclose any other potential conflicts.