The inspiration for this post was reading the following passage from The Economist:
“Some conservatives have been on a mission to remove critical race theory from classrooms. Described by these advocates as any coursework discussing topics through the lens of racial identities (which is well beyond the original definition used by the critical theorists themselves), they argue that this approach to pedagogy is divisive. Eight states have passed laws banning these discussions in classrooms.” - “Ethnic-studies lessons benefit low-achieving non-white pupils” The Economist/October 23, 2021 Issue
My first reaction to reading this passage was: how do you know that advocates of removing critical race theory from classrooms want to prohibit “any coursework discussing topics through the lens of racial identities”? And what does that even mean? Have you read the actual words of the actual bans?
Which is what I decided to do.
Two principles inform this post: 1) don’t assume you know what other people think; and 2) if you want to better understand what people think, start with what they say. In that spirit, here is how the bans are worded in each of the eight states that prohibit teaching what is often described as “critical race theory”:
1). Florida/State School Board Standards - 6A-1.094124
Examples of theories that distort historical events and are inconsistent with State Board approved standards include the denial or minimization of the Holocaust, and the teaching of Critical Race Theory, meaning the theory that racism is not merely the product of prejudice, but that racism is embedded in American society and its legal systems in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons.
A public school shall not allow a course, class, event, or activity within its program of instruction that: (1) Promotes the overthrow of the United States Government; (2) Promotes division (2) between, resentment of, or social justice for, a race, gender, political affiliation, social class, or particular class of people. (3) Advocates the isolation of a group of students based on a particular characteristic instead of the treatment of students as individuals, which may include without limitation isolating a group of students based on the following: ethnicity, race, religion, gender and social class; (4) Violates state or federal civil rights laws; or (5) Negatively targets specific nationalities or countries.
Race or sex scapegoating training by institution prohibited. “Race or sex scapegoating" means assigning fault, blame, or bias to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex, or claiming that, consciously or unconsciously, and by virtue of persons' race or sex, members of any race are inherently racist or are inherently inclined to oppress others, or that members of a sex are inherently sexist or inclined to oppress others. "Race or sex stereotyping" [also] means ascribing character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of the individual's race or sex.
This section shall not be construed to do any of the following: prohibit the use of curriculum that teaches the topics of sexism, slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation or racial discrimination, including topics relating to the enactment and enforcement of laws resulting in sexism, racial oppression, segregation, and discrimination.
No public institution of higher education, school district, or public school, including a public charter school, shall direct or otherwise compel students to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to any of the following tenets: (1) That any sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior; (2) That individuals should be adversely treated on the basis of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin; or (3) That individuals, by virtue of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin, are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin.
No distinction or classification of students shall be made on account of race or color.
No course of instruction or unit of study directing or otherwise compelling students to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to any of the tenets identified in … this subsection shall be used or introduced in any institution of higher education, any school district, or any public school, including a public charter school.
5). New Hampshire/House Bill 544
Propagation of Divisive Concepts prohibited, [meaning a] concept that: (a) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; (b) The state of New Hampshire or the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist; (c) An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; (d) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex; (e) Members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex; (f) An individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex; (g) An individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex; (h) Any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex; or (i) Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race.
The term “divisive concepts” includes any other form of race or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating. “Race or sex stereotyping” means ascribing character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of his or her race or sex. “Race or sex scapegoating” means assigning fault, blame, or bias to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex. It similarly encompasses any claim that, consciously or unconsciously, and by virtue of his or her race or sex, members of any race are inherently racist or are inherently inclined to oppress others, or that members of a sex are inherently sexist or inclined to oppress others.
No teacher, administrator or other employee of a school district, charter school or virtual charter school shall require or make part of a course the following concepts: a. one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; b. an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; c. an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex; d. members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex; e. an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex; f. an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex; g. any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex; or, h. meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race.
7). Tennessee/Public Charter 493
An LEA [Local Educational Agency] or public charter school shall not include or promote the following concepts as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or instructional program, or allow teachers or other employees of the LEA or public charter school to use supplemental instructional materials that include or promote the following concepts: (1) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; (2) An individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously; (3) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of the individual's race or sex; (4) An individual's moral character is determined by the individual's race or sex; (5) An individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex; (6) An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or another form of psychological distress solely because of the individual's race or sex; (7) A meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist, or designed by a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex; (8) This state or the United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist; (9) Promoting or advocating the violent overthrow of the United States government; (10) Promoting division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class, or class of people; (11) Ascribing character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of the individual's race or sex; (12) The rule of law does not exist, but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups; (13) All Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; or (14) Governments should deny to any person within the government's jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.
Prohibits a school district or charter school from including in its program of instruction any courses or classes that: (1) Promote the overthrow of the United States government; (2) Promote resentment toward a race or class of people; (3) Are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group; (4) Advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.
States that this act cannot be construed to restrict or prohibit… (1) Courses or classes that include the history of any ethnic group and that are open to all students, unless the course or class violates this act; (2) Courses or classes that include the discussion of controversial aspects of history; (3) The instruction of the Holocaust, any other instance of genocide, or the historical oppression of any particular group of people based on ethnicity, race, or class.
Prohibits rules pertaining to the discipline, suspension, and expulsion of pupils from being based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or ancestry.
There’s so much here to discuss and debate. If only…….