UPDATE: The House did not consider House Bill 205 for introduction.
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House Bill 205 would censor academic discussions about American history and race in Wyoming public school classrooms.
The ACLU of Wyoming opposes House Bill 205.
Every student should have the right to receive an equitable education and have an open and honest dialogue about America’s history. House Bill 205 is a direct affront to the constitutional rights of teachers and students across Wyoming by restricting conversations around race in our schools. This bill is intended to inflame a political reaction, not further a legitimate educational interest.
The First Amendment protects the right to share ideas, including the right of individuals to receive information and knowledge. This bill oversteps the state government’s legitimate authority by imposing curriculum restrictions that should remain with local districts. Instead of encouraging learning, House Bill 205 effectively gags educators and students from talking about issues of the most profound national importance, such as the impact of systemic racism in our society. Simply put, this is a blatant attempt to suppress speech about race that some may disfavor.
