There is an effort underway in several Republican states to ban critical race theory from the public school system. Some conservatives have objected to this push, arguing that the precedent it sets could prove disastrous for the conservative movement later on. After all, aren’t we the ones who defend and depend on the free exchange of ideas? If we violate the neutral square in which this free exchange occurs, who’s to say conservative ideas won’t be banned next?

The problem with this argument is that the “neutral square” to which they’re referring, the public school system, is not neutral at all. It is a government-run, government-funded, and government-staffed system, which means the state is going to be thoroughly involved in its curriculum one way or the other. And it is: The state sets academic standards for students, requires attendance, and prescribes common class material that teachers are expected to stick to when teaching.