HOUSTON – Should slavery be legal in Texas? That question was featured as part of the curriculum for seventh graders at Houston ISD schools, and it’s causing an uproar.
Several parents brought this to KPRC 2′s attention and were outraged, including HISD’s newly elected District 2 Trustee, Savant Moore. He says that question shouldn’t be asked to anyone in 2024, especially not seventh graders.
“It contradicts the principles and undermines the values that we as Americans should be standing for as a society,” Moore said.
Moore has three children, two of whom are in an HISD middle school. He was on the road working as a trucker Friday but felt compelled to pull over and explain why he was taken aback when he heard about seventh-grade curriculum that posed the slavery question.
“Slavery is an injustice that goes against fundamental human rights. I believe in promoting equality, justice, and the abolishment of any form of slavery,” he said.
The multiple choice question HISD officials admit was posted on their website today is followed by three answers kids could choose:
- A- Texas should allow slavery, this would satisfy slaveholders.
- B- Texas should outlaw slavery just like Mexico, it is immoral and cruel. Who cares about slaveholders?
- C- Texas should allow slavery for twenty more years, this way slaveholders have time to prepare.
“In this generation, TikTok, Instagram, social media generation, they don’t understand this at all… To them all of their peers are the same as them,” Moore said.
HISD responded with the following statement:
“This seventh-grade social studies lesson does not meet our curriculum quality standards. We will immediately stop using it and will replace it with a more appropriate lesson to teach students about the convention of 1836.”
Moore says it should’ve never been included in the first place.
“Why does any child have to be questioned about ‘should slavery be legal?’ Because now mentally they’re going to be wondering ‘Is there something wrong with my skin color?’” Moore said.
KPRC 2 also asked HISD who specifically is responsible for writing that into the curriculum. While an answer was not given, told that while it was on the website, it has since been removed.