The following may be attributed to TEA President Tanya T. Coats, a veteran Knox County educator:

Tennessee educators believe deeply in the promise of public education and in the civic values it is meant to uphold.

The governor’s call for a special session to redraw congressional districts raises serious concerns about whether that promise is being honored, particularly for communities whose voices have shaped the course of our nation’s history. Memphis is not just another city on a map. It is one of the cradles of the Civil Rights Movement, home to the National Civil Rights Museum, and the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life in the fight for justice and equal representation.

The Civil Rights Act did not emerge in a vacuum. It was born, in large part, from the sacrifices and struggles of people in Memphis and across the South who demanded that their voices be heard. To now consider actions that could diminish representation for that same community is deeply troubling.

That legacy does not live only in history books; it lives in our classrooms. Educators across Tennessee teach these lessons every day. Our state standards ask students to understand the significance of the Civil Rights Movement, the power of civic engagement, and the importance of fair and representative government. Those are not abstract concepts; they are commitments.

At a time when students are watching closely, the decisions made by lawmakers send a powerful message about whether we still believe in those commitments. Tennessee’s congressional districts should reflect the will of voters in a way that is fair, transparent, and worthy of the legacy we teach in our classrooms.

Strong schools build strong communities, and strong communities depend on trust in the systems that represent them. Educators are proud to teach the history of the Civil Rights Movement. We expect that history to be respected, not rewritten, erased, or pushed aside.