Race, Law and Curriculum

Since the inception of public schools, law and the legal system have played a major role in shaping what students learn in public education. Repeatedly in American history, lawmakers, teachers, students and their families have grappled with the scope, meaning, and design of school curriculum. This class explores this history and poses questions about the appropriate role of government, the legal definition of educational curriculum, the First Amendment right to information and ideas, and the impact of this right on social stratification.