A bill in the U.S. seeks to teach the dangers of communism in schools

A group of Republican lawmakers has pushed in the United States Congress for the Crucial Communism Teaching Act, a bill aimed at including lessons about the dangers of communism and its impact on history in school curricula.

According to Florida Politics, the initiative has the support of Senators Rick Scott (Florida), John Kennedy (Louisiana), and Eric Schmitt (Missouri), while in the House of Representatives, it is championed by Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar.

According to the outlet, the proposal aims to ensure that students learn about the crimes committed by communist regimes, emphasizing that over 100 million people have died under these systems and that currently 1.5 billion live under communist governments.

The curriculum would be developed by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, and it would focus on contrasting the values of "freedom and patriotism" with "communism and totalitarianism."

The initiative would allow for the integration of these contents into subjects such as history, social studies, government, and economics.

Senator Rick Scott, on his X profile, justified the measure by stating that communism remains a real threat and that it is essential for new generations to understand its consequences.

"The radical left continues to promote failed socialist and communist ideologies that oppose freedom and democracy. My Crucial Communism Teaching Act provides schools with the tools to educate students about the dangers of communism and preserve the principles of our nation," he stated.

For her part, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar also supported the initiative, emphasizing the need to combat indoctrination in schools and educate young people about the crimes of communism.

"More than 100 million lives have been lost due to the horrors of communism. We need to fight against indoctrination in our schools and teach our children about the brutality of communism. I am proud to support @SenRickScott to ensure that the next generation knows the truth!" wrote Salazar on her X profile.

According to Florida Politics, this proposal is based on the law passed in Florida, which requires public and charter schools to teach the history of communism starting from the 2026-2027 academic year.

The Crucial Communism Teaching Act had already been approved by the House of Representatives in 2024 and, according to its proponents, has a high likelihood of progressing again this year.

If it becomes law, it would ensure that future generations do not forget the atrocities committed under communism and its impact on millions of lives around the world.

The proposed law, Crucial Communism Teaching Act, is part of a series of previous initiatives in Florida to include education about the effects of communism in the curriculum.

In March 2021, a similar proposal was presented in the state Congress by Republican Ardian Zika, which aimed to create a video library with testimonies from exiles of communist regimes and to declare November 7 as "Victims of Communism Day."

Subsequently, in June of that same year, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law requiring Florida schools to provide instruction on the crimes of communist regimes.

The measure established that students were to receive education about historical figures who fled communism and to compare freedom in the U.S. with countries like China and North Korea.

In November 2022, DeSantis officially declared November 7 as Victims of Communism Day in Florida. The law HB 395 established that, starting from the 2023-2024 school year, students will receive at least 45 minutes of instruction on communist regimes and their crimes in various countries.

More recently, in March 2024, Cuban writer Enrique Del Risco criticized the removal of books from libraries in Florida under the administration of DeSantis, pointing out that this measure could be contradictory to the values upheld in the fight against communism.

The Crucial Communism Teaching Act strengthens these educational policies at the federal level, with the support of political figures like María Elvira Salazar, who had already promoted similar legislation in 2021 to educate American students about the dangers of communism and its impact on history.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Teaching of Communism in the United States