DALLAS — Kids are halfway through the fall semester and the topic of critical race theory is still confusing to some teachers. This comes as a conservative group called Save TX Kids is trying to get teachers to report on co-workers who promote critical race theory.

Some teachers throughout the state say they are overthinking lesson plans because they feel there are too many grey areas in the critical race theory law. So, academic professionals are planning to head to Austin and demand more clean-cut guidelines for what is allowed to be taught in the classroom. 

When it’s time for Renee Hampton to step inside the classroom as a sociology and psychology teacher, she doesn’t feel like grace follows her. Like many other teachers across the state, this is her first semester of having to follow the state's new law for critical race theory. She says it hasn’t been the easiest.

“It’s more difficult than it was last year,” Hampton said. 

In her class, some discussions deal with privilege, biases and discrimination. These are issues that some see as controversial. To protect herself and other teachers in her district from allegations of teaching critical race theory, parents and students are asked to sign an agreement. This shows that both parent and child are OK with the curriculum. 

“I keep those in my desk just in case anything ever comes up,” Hampton said. 

Lawrence Scott is the assistant professor of educational leadership at Texas A&M San Antonio. Scott says Hampton is not the only teacher trying to stay in the clear. He explains there are too many grey areas in the law to know what’s acceptable and what’s not. 

“It’s become a pedagogical nightmare for the experts in the classroom. We saw this in Southlake where an administrator was encouraging and training her teachers on how to teach the Holocaust, and now you have to give both sides of the argument,” said Scott. 

Scott says he and other academic professionals in the state will be fighting in Austin for more clarity with the critical race theory law. He believes teachers should not have the type of worry that exists now. 

Until there's a better understanding for teachers, Hampton says she’ll be counting on those signed curriculum agreements from parents and students as her security blanket.