Tag: divisive concepts

University of Tennessee Quietly Renaming its Division of Diversity and Engagement to Dodge State Law

Kaitlin Housler

The University of Tennessee (UT) System is reportedly rebranding its Division of Diversity and Engagement in order to “better reflect the division’s mission, as well as move away from some potentially divisive terminology,” according to The Daily Beacon.

The division’s mission, according to its website, is to “actively support, foster and enhance environments of inclusion where the diversity of all faculty, staff, and students are connected to fully engage in fair, respectful, and equitable campus experiences throughout the University of Tennessee community.”

Read the full story

Law Banning ‘Implicit Bias Training’ in Tennessee Schools Takes Effect as School Year Is Set to Begin

Peter D'Abrosca

A new Tennessee law that bans “implicit bias training” in school took effect ahead of the new school year, which begins in the second week of August for most students.

HB015 bans school administrators from forcing teachers, faculty, and staff to be trained on implicit biases, which typically involves teaching that one race is inherently biased against another simply by existing.

Read the full story

Sumner County Commission Passes Resolution Calling Out Local School System for Inappropriate Books

Laura Baigert

GALLATIN, Tennessee – Sumner County’s Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Monday night that calls out Sumner County Schools (SCS) for having books in the system’s libraries that contain pornographic material and divisive concepts, in apparent violation of two different sections of Tennessee state law.

After about 90 minutes of debate and hearing from SCS Chief Academic Officer Scott Langford, the measure passed with a vote of 15 yes, 5 no and 1 abstention, after an earlier debate that resulted in adding the item to the agenda.

Read the full story

Woke University of Tennessee Professors Speak Out Against ‘Divisive Concepts’ Bill

Peter D'Abrosca

Several University of Tennessee – Knoxville (UTK) professors are speaking out about the so-called “divisive concepts” bill that has taken effect in Tennessee, which they oppose. 

“Professors and faculty at universities and colleges are specially qualified to teach the classes that they teach. They need to be in charge of what goes on in their classrooms and when the legislature comes in and starts dictating what can and cannot be discussed, that disrupts the entire purpose of higher education,” UTK professor Kristina Gehrman told 10NEWS.

Read the full story

Anti-CRT Bill Takes Effect Friday in Georgia

Peter D'Abrosca

A bill that restricts schools from teaching “divisive concepts” like Critical Race Theory (CRT) will take effect Friday. 

HB 1084, which passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly in April and was signed into law shortly thereafter, “require[s] local boards of education, local school superintendents, and the governing bodies of charter schools to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race [and] require[s] that curricula and training programs shall encourage such employees not to judge others based on race,” according to the text of the bill. 

Read the full story

Youngkin and Kaine Speak on Juneteenth at Separate Events

Eric Burk

Two Virginia governors gave Juneteenth speeches over the weekend: Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke at Fort Monroe on Sunday, and former governor, current U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) gave the keynote speech at a Loudoun NAACP Juneteenth event Monday. Both men highlighted the role of Virginia as the site where African slaves first arrived in 1619. Youngkin focused more on the contrast between those actions and the U.S.’ ideals, which the country is still striving for, while Kaine focused on the history of slavery and emancipation in America while referring to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s educational policy without directly naming the governor.

Read the full story

Far-Left Ohio State Senator Announces Opposition to Divisive Concepts Bill

Peter D'Abrosca

An LGBT Senator in Ohio is upset over a recently-introduced bill that would prevent “divisive concepts” from being taught in the classroom. 

“HB 616 is more than just about censoring LGBTQ discussion. The bill combines the worst parts of Ohio’s curriculum bans censoring topics of race and intersectionality. A more expansive version of Florida’s Recent Bill,” State Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-District 23) said. 

Read the full story

Georgia Democrats Cry Foul After Republicans Add Trans Athlete Ban to ‘Divisive Concept’ Bill

Peter D'Abrosca

Georgia’s Democrats are crying foul after Republicans added language to a bill that will ban biological males from competing in female sports. 

“In the final minutes of Sine Die, Georgia Republicans just squeezed in language that discriminates against trans kids to an already terrible bill, HB 1084. To target kids, to ban kids from playing sports, and to attack teachers at the same time. Appalling,” the Georgia House Democrats said. 

Read the full story

Ohio General Assembly Introduces ‘Divisive Concepts’ Bill

Peter D'Abrosca

A bill targeting “divisive concepts” that specifically names Critical Race Theory (CRT) and other far-left agendas in schools has been introduced in the Ohio General Assembly. 

“The school district board shall not select any textbook, instructional material, or academic curriculum that promotes any divisive or inherently racist concept…” the text of HB 616 says. 

Read the full story

Vote Expected Next Week on Tennessee ‘Divisive Concepts’ Bill

Peter D'Abrosca
man in a blue dress shirt and gray vest pointing and speaking

A Tennessee bill that would, among other things, mandate that public universities stop teaching “divisive concepts” to students will be voted upon next week. 

“I believe the bill will pass,” the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Mike Bell (R-Athens) told The Tennessee Star Tuesday. “It was rolled last night only because the house had added an amendment and I needed a little more time to consider whether to accept the House amendment or to go forward with the Senate version.”

Read the full story

Georgia Senate Approves Bill to Ban Teaching ‘Divisive Concepts’

The Center Square
Bo Hatchett

Georgia teachers would be banned from teaching “divisive concepts” in the classroom under legislation signed off on by the Georgia Senate.

Senators voted, 34-20, in favor of Senate Bill 377. The legislation now heads to the state House, where lawmakers previously passed similar legislation, House Bill 1084.

The bill outlines nine “divisive concepts,” including that one “race or ethnicity is inherently superior to another race or ethnicity” and that an “individual’s moral character is inherently determined by his or her race, skin color, or ethnicity.”

Read the full story

Georgia Senate Passes Bill to Teach Only Racial Equality in Schools

Peter D'Abrosca

The Georgia Senate passed a bill Friday requiring that school curricula only teach kindergarten through high school students that all races are equal, banning the concepts of Critical Race Theory (CRT) that teach students that races in America are inherently unequal. 

SB 377 says schools cannot teach “divisive concepts” to school children. It mandates the same for government agencies. 

Read the full story

Critical Race Theory Debate Heating Up in Ohio General Assembly

The Center Square
Ohio State House

School districts, teachers unions, student groups and parents lined up at the Ohio House to testify against two bills that would stop schools from teaching what sponsors called “divisive concepts” in the classroom.

The House State and Local Government Committee heard more than three hours of testimony Wednesday during the third hearing for both House Bill 322 and House Bill 327. Each prohibits teaching concepts that are part of the nationwide critical race theory movement critics say purports the U.S. is a fundamentally racist country.

Read the full story