A new bill has been introduced in the Nebraska Legislature aiming to require K-12 schools to educate students on the negative aspects of communism.
Bill 1024, put forth by State Senator Dave Murman (R), proposes that “each school district in Nebraska should allocate time during the next school year to teach the history of communism globally and in the U.S.”
The curriculum outlined in the bill encompasses topics like the “growing threat of communism in the U.S. and its allies throughout the 20th century,” as well as the “mass murders that occurred under communist regimes.”
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the lessons on communism’s evils “should be suited for age groups and address various subjects, including the history of communism in the U.S. and the atrocities committed globally, comparisons of political ideologies such as communism and totalitarianism with American democratic principles, and notable historical events like the Cultural Revolution in China and the history of the Soviet Union, along with the religious persecution faced under these regimes.”
Additionally, the bill mandates that the State Board of Education establish academic content standards concerning the history of communism by January 1, 2027, amend existing laws to ensure that the Commission on American Civics reviews social studies curriculum in line with these new standards, and emphasizes the significance of civics knowledge and patriotism education.
Murman, who chairs the Congressional Education Committee, expressed concern about the number of young people viewing communism as a valid ideology, suggesting that the education system is failing to impart crucial lessons about American history.
“Especially among college students and children who haven’t experienced K-12 education, there appears to be support for socialism and even communism,” he remarked. “I believe we have to work diligently to teach the dangers and negative consequences associated with communism in our schools.”
The proposed legislation would also require students to pass a written test, covering the civics portion similar to the U.S. citizenship exam, before graduating from eighth grade and high school.
In response, Nebraska’s largest teachers’ union has voiced opposition to the bill.
“These standards are not adequate,” remarked Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska Education Association. “This isn’t the right approach to teaching history.”
He further suggested that Congress should allow educators to develop the social studies standards.
