"To Educate a Mockingbird: California’s Commitment to Inclusive Educati" by Nicholas McKenna
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Abstract

Education in the United States has long been a battleground where state authority and individual liberties intersect, shaping what and how students learn. California enacted Assembly Bill 1078 (AB 1078) to counter restrictive trends on classroom discussions about race and gender. The bill mandates that instructional materials reflect the state’s diverse heritage, which has raised critical questions about state power in public education.

This Note argues that AB 1078 aligns with and reinforces the Supreme Court’s vision of public education as a space for the free exchange of diverse ideas. By embodying antitotalitarian principles, AB 1078 ensures that public schools remain spaces free from censorship and ideological oppression. Examining the historical and contemporary weaponization of education in the United States, this Note highlights the persistent challenges in achieving educational equity and underscores the importance of an inclusive approach to history education.

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