Please Remove “Patriotic Education” Language from HR1

The proposed "patriotic education" principles in HR1 legislation pose a grave threat to the integrity of our educational system and the accurate teaching of American history. Whitewashing complex historical events and mandating a jingoistic curriculum does a disservice to students by depriving them of a comprehensive understanding of our nation's triumphs and struggles. We cannot shy away from the difficult but essential examination of issues like slavery, segregation, systemic racism, and oppression of minority groups. Sanitizing or omitting these realities from our textbooks and classrooms would perpetuate a dangerous revisionism that runs counter to the principles of intellectual honesty and critical thinking. Additionally, forcing an overtly "patriotic" framing risks indoctrinating students instead of allowing them to engage with multiple perspectives and develop their own informed worldviews. Education should foster open inquiry, not nationalistic propaganda. Specific examples of concerning "patriotic education" requirements that should be rescinded from HR1 include mandated portrayal of founders as unblemished heroes despite their personal involvement with slavery, compulsory celebration of westward expansion without reckoning with Native displacement, and enforced emphasis on American "exceptionalism" over honest assessments of our nation's complexities. I urge you to protect the integrity of American education by removing any "patriotic education" dictates from HR1. Our students deserve a truthful, nuanced exploration of history, not a whitewashed mythologizing crafted for political aims. Preserving robust, ethical education should be of paramount importance for the good of our nation.