The House of Representatives passed a bill to educate American students about the dangers of communism, sparking both support and criticism.
House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Educate Youth on Communism
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Crucial Communism Teaching (CCT) Act, H.R. 5349, with an overwhelming majority of 327-62. Introduced by Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), the bill aims to create a curriculum to educate middle and high school students about the history and effects of communist and totalitarian regimes.
🚨House passes @RepMariaSalazar’s Critical Communism Teaching Act.@virginiafoxx says it's “not a radical idea that American values should be taught in American schools.” @SpeakerJohnson adds that students must be "taught the true dangers of communism."https://t.co/wRQAWh0tUg
— House Committee on Education & the Workforce (@EdWorkforceCmte) December 6, 2024
The CCT Act, inspired by the Never Again Education Act, which focuses on Holocaust education, seeks to address what its proponents see as a significant gap in the current educational system. The bill has garnered support from both sides of the aisle, reflecting a bipartisan concern about the lack of accurate information on communism available to American students.
👏🏻 Thank you @RepMariaSalazar for taking to the national level our @VoCommunism model legislation to teach students about the crimes & victims of communist systems. Your leadership will help ensure that all Americans understand the dangers of this vile ideology. https://t.co/YiX7OftWFk
— Armando Ibarra (@aibarra) December 6, 2024
Addressing Educational Gaps and Concerns
The legislation responds to concerns that a significant portion of Generation Z holds a favorable view of communism, which can be attributed to a lack of accurate educational materials. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, which supports the bill, will assist in creating educational resources that highlight the historical impact of communist regimes.
“By passing my Crucial Communism Teaching Act, the House of Representatives will ensure future generations will remember the pain and suffering caused by the brutal communist ideology. My community in Miami understands the evils of communism very well, and we must ensure all Americans are aware of the death and misery it has caused. Their stories and memories will now live on in the minds of our youth.” Rep. María Elvira Salazar.
The act emphasizes that communism has resulted in over 100 million deaths worldwide, with 1.5 billion people still living under communist regimes today. It aims to comprehensively understand political ideologies that conflict with U.S. democratic principles.
Support and Criticism
The bill has received strong support from various representatives and senators, who praise its role in preserving the memory of communism’s victims and educating future generations. Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the act’s importance in light of growing challenges from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party.
“Communism has a long, dark history of political suppression, persecution, and violence. Unfortunately, the realities of communism are often overlooked or downplayed in our educational system, allowing malign foreign actors to push their agendas and influence American institutions. As we face growing challenges from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party, the Crucial Communism Teaching Act takes a stand against this dangerous trend. It is more important than ever that our students are taught the true dangers of communism and the importance of safeguarding our freedoms. I appreciate Congresswoman Salazar for her leadership and ensuring that the future of our country’s education system is rooted in the lessons of history and the preservation of our values.” Speaker Mike Johnson.
However, the bill has faced criticism from some quarters. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) argued that the legislation is “narrowly tailored” and fails to address broader educational issues or mention other historical topics such as fascism and the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Looking Ahead
As the Crucial Communism Teaching Act moves forward, it represents a significant step in shaping how American students learn about global political ideologies. The bill’s passage in the House marks an important milestone. Still, its ultimate impact will depend on its implementation in schools nationwide and its ability to provide a balanced, comprehensive education on the complexities of political systems and their historical impacts.
“The Berlin Wall may have fallen in 1989, but the evil ideology behind it did not. Today, one-fifth of humanity still lives under communist tyranny. Sadly, American students are increasingly unaware of the history and legacy of communism. It’s time to right this wrong—the Crucial Communism Teaching Act is a commonsense piece of legislation to ensure that our students learn the truth, past and present, about this deadly ideology.” Dr. Eric Patterson.
As the bill progresses, educators, policymakers, and the public will closely monitor how this new curriculum is developed and implemented and its impact on students’ understanding of global history and political systems.
Sources:
https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazars-crucial-communism-teaching-act-passes-house
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/house-overwhelmingly-passes-crucial-communism-teaching-act-5772162