Mood of the Nation Poll results reveal some of the complexity of public opinion about this issue — including that most Americans do not think state legislatures and governors should have a “great deal of influence” over how slavery and racism are taught.
On the other hand, parents of school children received the most support of any group to have “a great deal of influence” over how those subjects are taught. Specifically on the topic of how slavery and racism are taught in schools, ninety percent believe that schools have a responsibility to teach about slavery, but the public is divided on whether schools should teach about contemporary racism.