At least one more state and even the U.S. House of Representatives are moving to ban or limit the teaching of critical race theory in public schools.
Republican Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina on Wednesday introduced the “The Stop CRT Act” to cut federal funding from schools that teach critical race theory, National Review reported.
Critical race theory holds that racism is a “normal feature of society and is embedded within systems and institutions,” according to a post by the American Bar Association.
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina this week “fast-tracked” restrictions on teaching critical race theory in schools, WRAL.com reported.
North Carolina House Republicans said their bill—which has the support of the state’s education commissioner—is not a full ban but requires schools to make it clear they don’t “sponsor, approve, or endorse” critical race theory concepts, according to WRAL.
Democrat state Rep. James Gailliard called the measure “a bill of hatred … a bill of privilege … a bill of fragility,” WRAL reported.
The school board in Moore County, North Carolina, voted against banning critical race theory, The Pilot reported.
Idaho, Oklahoma and Tennessee have already banned the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 schools, and officials have faced immediate pushback.
All eight members of the Oklahoma City School Board sharply criticized Gov. Kevin Stitt, who last week signed a critical race theory ban in the state.
“As a district that’s over 80% students of color, this is definitely an insult,” said board member Ruth Veales, who is Black and Native American.
Lawmakers in Delaware, meanwhile, are likely to soon pass a bill that would require schools to have Black history woven “into all educational programming,” WHYY reported.
The bill, which would also require schools to teach about racism and intolerance, could take effect in the 2022-23 academic year.
