In this article, Julian Vasquez Heilig, Keffrelyn Brown, and Anthony Brown offer findings from a close textual analysis of how the Texas social studies standards address race, racism, and communities of color. Using the lens of Critical Race Theory, the authors uncover the sometimes subtle ways that the standards can appear to adequately address race while at the same time marginalizing it—the “illusion of inclusion.” Their study offers insight into the mechanisms of marginalization in standards and a model of how to closely analyze such standards, which, the authors argue, is increasingly important as the standards and accountability movements continue to grow in influence.
Hear also Julian Vasquez Heilig and Keffrelyn Brown discuss the Texas Social Studies standards changes on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Kathleen Dunn Show
Vasquez Heilig, J., Brown, K. & Brown, A. (2012). The illusion of inclusion: Race and standards. Harvard Educational Review, 83(3), 403-424.*
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[...] Luckily we have a highly-qualified and consciences State Board of Education. Or do we? See our analysis of the Texas social studies standards published in the Harvard Educational Review this [...]
[...] Board of Education and TEKS standards revision process in “Texas: Butt of many jokes” and “Illusion of Inclusion”. Looking forward to seeing this The Revisionaries. Note: Also see the NAACP’s request for a [...]
[...] few more takes on the Harvard Educational Review article Illusion of Inclusion in which we analyzed the Texas US Social Studies [...]
[…] on the occasion (above). The film inspired me to underscore a finding from our recent Harvard Educational Review paper entitled Illusion of Inclusion. Native American leaders are completely excluded from the U.S. Social Studies standards in Texas. […]