"Chilling the Minds of Youth": Civil Rights Lawsuit Targets SC Curriculum Limits

A Civil Rights Lawsuit Challenges South Carolina’s Education Policies

A civil rights lawsuit is currently making headlines in South Carolina, with the State Superintendent of Education, Ellen Weaver, and two Midlands school districts at the center of the legal battle. The case challenges a temporary law included in the state budget that was first passed in 2021. This law allows schools to lose funding if they teach certain topics related to race, sex discrimination, and gender.

The lawsuit argues that this provision is both unconstitutional and overly vague. It claims that the law restricts teachers and school districts from addressing race-related issues and censors books written by Black authors. The plaintiffs in the case include several individuals who have been affected by these policies, including educators and students.

A Teacher’s Experience with Censorship

One of the key plaintiffs is Mary Wood, an English teacher from Lexington-Richland School District Five. She gained attention a few years ago for teaching a book about race in her classroom. According to the lawsuit, she received a letter of reprimand, and the course was removed from the curriculum due to concerns that it violated the state proviso.

Tyler Bailey, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, described the impact of the law on teachers. “You don’t want to be labeled a radical or someone trying to indoctrinate children by just teaching a book that is a good book for kids,” he said. “This law really handcuffs teachers, and it also handcuffs the minds of our children as well.”

Impact on Library Programs

Another plaintiff is Ayanna Mayes, a librarian at Chain High School. The lawsuit claims that she had to cancel several library programs, including book of the month events, library trivia, and free book tables. These decisions were made out of fear of violating the state proviso, especially after some of the books in her library faced online criticism from parents.

The Discontinuation of African American Studies

The lawsuit also highlights the removal of the Advanced Placement (AP) course titled African American Studies. This course was offered as a pilot program before being taken off the AP roster by the South Carolina Department of Education. A memo sent to districts in 2024 stated that there had been significant controversy surrounding the course since its inception.

While students can still take honors African American Studies if their school offers it, they will not receive the same benefits as AP courses. They cannot transfer the course to their transcript, and they do not get the GPA boost that comes with taking an AP class. Daebreon McMasters, a student from Ridge View High School, has been advocating for the return of the AP course.

“I don’t even know how deep African American history is in our society,” McMasters said. “It’s a big disadvantage for some kids not to have access to this course.”

State Response to the Lawsuit

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Education emphasized the state’s commitment to teaching African American history. “African-American history is our shared history,” the statement read. “South Carolina’s commitment to teach both the tragedies and triumphs of America’s journey remains unchanged, as outlined in our long-standing instructional standards.”

The spokesperson added that the lawsuit does not reflect any shortcomings in the state’s educational policies. They also expressed a continued dedication to promoting understanding and respect for history while complying with state law.

School Districts’ Responses

WIS reached out to the school districts named in the lawsuit. Lexington School District Three did not respond to the request for comment, while Lexington-Richland School District Five stated that they do not comment on pending litigation.

As the legal battle continues, the debate over what should be taught in schools and how to address sensitive topics remains a central issue in education policy across the country.