Idaho Governor Brad Little recently signed into law Senate Bill 1336, which requires high schoolers to complete courses in history and government with a strong emphasis on civics. However, the law misspells the name of Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas, a surprising error given the bill’s rigorous review process.
A Deeper Historical Irony
The mistake is particularly notable given the historical context of Senator Douglas’ life. He was originally named Stephen Arnold Douglass, with two SS’s, but changed his name in 1846, possibly due to the rising fame of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. This name change may have been motivated by a desire to avoid suspicion or smears in Illinois politics, particularly after he became engaged to Martha Martin, the daughter of a wealthy North Carolina family.
The conflation of Stephen Douglas and Frederick Douglass is not a trivial matter, as it narrows the significant moral gap between the two men. Frederick Douglass was a prominent voice against slavery and racial discrimination, while Stephen Douglas claimed to be neutral on the issue of slavery, advocating for the power of each state or territory to decide its own fate.
The new law in Idaho is part of a broader movement to reshape the teaching of American history, with several states passing legislation to restrict the discussion of certain concepts, including those related to Critical Race Theory. This shift has raised concerns about the erasure of the history of institutional racism from America’s schools.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
