Oppose Texas SB412: Teaching Ban & Book Censorship is Un American

Texas Senate Bill 412 is an outrageous attack on public education, free expression, and truth. This bill would allow the prosecution of public school employees for simply assigning or teaching material deemed “sexually explicit,” even if the content is literary or historical in nature. It’s vague by design and weaponized to instill fear and silence educators. Texas students deserve an honest, well-rounded education—not one distorted by political agendas. Experts agree this approach is dangerous. PEN America warns that book bans and vague censorship laws like SB 412 “create a chilling effect that undermines students’ rights and educators’ ability to teach” (PEN America, 2024). Teaching Toni Morrison or discussing historical truths about race or identity should not come with the threat of jail time. Bills like this erode academic freedom, strip communities of diverse perspectives, and inch us toward authoritarian control. What kind of government punishes its own educators for sharing literature or teaching students to think critically? Bills like SB 412 do not reflect American values. They mirror the tactics of repressive regimes that fear free thought. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike should be ashamed that this bill is advancing in Texas. We cannot allow the state to criminalize teachers for doing their jobs. I urge you to reject SB 412 and any similar legislation. Texas must support its teachers and students—not intimidate and prosecute them. Silence now is complicity. Stand up for truth, freedom, and the future of Texas education.