Abstract

As we begin the 2024-2025 school year, thousands of teachers throughout the United States are returning to the classroom in states that have implemented strict limitations on books and instructional practices, despite these books and instructional practices’ power to advance students’ knowledge, inspire critical thinking skills, and support students emotionally as they form a sense of identity and develop as human beings. The current debate over new teaching methods and curriculum that involve a critical approach should be viewed as an enormous opportunity for teachers to better understand what CRT really is and utilize the many benefits that critical analysis can offer to students. Gloria Ladson-Billings’ (2021) Critical Race Theory in Education is a perfect starting point for teachers looking to gain knowledge about CRT. The commentary in this book review highlights Ladson-Billings's arguments for why embracing critical perspectives helps improve learning and development among students.

Keywords: teaching methods, curriculum, secondary education, professional development, critical analysis

How to Cite:

Giller, C., (2026) “Why Gloria Ladson-Billings’s Critical Race Theory in Education is a Must Read for Secondary English Teachers in the Era of State Censorship”, Literacy Connections 2(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/litconnections.21167