Unfair Park from p10 destructive climate, D’Amico said. In Dripping Springs, two conservative school board candi- dates won by running within that right-wing framework. They accused teachers of trying to sexualize elementary kids, such as by having a rainbow sign on their door to signal a welcom- ing and inclusive environment, he said. Certain conservatives have also started to accuse pro-LGBTQ+ teachers of “grooming” children, a term used to describe the process of gaining a minor’s trust in order to sexually abuse them. Last month, Pulitzer Prize-win- ning playwright David Mamet told FOX News that “teachers are inclined, particularly men because men are predators, to pedophilia.” Such rhetoric is hard for many educators to have to face, D’Amico said: “It’s a layer of what’s causing them to leave the profession.” Some districts have struggled to hold onto teachers, a problem that’s also ap- peared at the administrative level. In Febru- ary, FOX 4 reported that 10 North Texas superintendents have opted to part ways with their district this school year, including Dallas ISD’s Michael Hinojosa. National right-wing organizations and political action committees have started to bankroll such elections, KXAN reported. Last year, the Texas GOP also launched a “Local Government Committee” to help conservative candidates. At least 10 conservative PACs have cropped up in North Texas to push school districts further right, according to The Dal- las Morning News. And even though both Democrats and Republicans zeroed in on this year’s board races, it’s mainly the GOP that’s reaping the rewards. Recently, the conservative 1776 Project PAC ushered in wins for 15 “anti-CRT” can- didates in suburban districts across Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth, according to The Washington Examiner, a conservative outlet. Typically, school board races are low- turnout elections dominated by teachers and staff, said Leslie K. Finger, an assistant profes- sor of political science at the University of North Texas. But after COVID-19 hit the United States, people got more involved in school board meetings as districts considered campus closures and mask mandates. CRT also inspired some to become more engaged. Citing the PAC-backed school board races, Finger said: “It’s definitely an unprec- edented time we’re in.” It’s becoming more common to see national political orienta- tions influence what happens on the state and local levels, she added. Some parents were also unhappy after certain school districts launched equity plans following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of Min- neapolis police in 2020, Finger said. Now, many of these initiatives have been scrapped or watered down. Plus, state legislators have begun to re- strict what topics can be taught in public schools, such as race, gender and sexuality. “I’m sure teachers feel like they have to watch their back and that they’re walking on eggshells a little more,” Finger said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a lot of 12 12 teachers retiring or leaving the career,” she continued. “I wouldn’t want to be a teacher in North Texas right now.” CONCERTS ALL SUMMER LONG ENTER TO WIN DALLASOBSERVER.COM/ FREE/LAWN MAY 19–25, 2022 DALLAS OBSERVER CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | CULTURE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS dallasobserver.com MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2014 DALLAS OBSERVER | CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | MOVIES | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | SCHUTZE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS | dallasobserver.com
