“Being Taken as a Slave Is Better Than Being Killed”: Analyzing PragerU’s State-Sanctioned Video Curriculum

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Narratives, Censorship, and Mandates: Examining the Impact of Language, Curriculum, and Policy on U.S. Social Studies Education (Table 10)

Abstract

This study critically examines the ideological implications of incorporating PragerU Kids' content into school curricula, particularly in light of Florida’s House Bill 7, which mandates “accurate, objective, balanced, and noninflammatory” instructional materials. Utilizing Social Dominance Theory and critical discourse analysis, we analyzed twenty-five episodes of Leo and Layla’s History Adventures, a cartoon series in which siblings time travel to meet historical figures. We found that PragerU videos promote hierarchy-enhancing legitimizing myths that reinforce power structures in society by perpetuating biased narratives and distorting historical facts, thereby challenging the bill’s purported goals. This research underscores the need for educators to critically assess content to ensure an inclusive curriculum that promotes educational justice and a renewal of democratic ideals.

Authors

• Kate Arnold, University of Miami

• Matthew R. Deroo, Florida International University