The Ohio legislature has become the latest to propose a law that would ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory to children in public schools.
House Bill 322 would prohibit the teaching of all of the following, according to the state House’s website:
- One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex
- An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously
- An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s race
- An individual’s moral standing or worth is necessarily determined by the individual’s race or sex
- 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
- The advent of slavery in the territory that is now the United States constituted the true founding of the United States
- With respect to their relationship to American values, slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of or failures to live up to the authentic founding principles of the United States, which include liberty and equality.
Critical Race Theory teaches progressive ideology like “White privilege,” “institutional racism,” “microaggressions,” and other left-wing sociological constructs. Republicans say that the teachings are divisive, and even racist themselves.
“Critical Race Theory is a dangerous and flat-out wrong theory. It is designed to look at everything from a ‘race first’ lens, which is the very definition of racism. CRT claiming to fight racism is laughable. Students should not be asked to ‘examine their whiteness’ or ‘check their privilege,’” said state Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport), the sponsor of HB 322.
The bill, which is awaiting its first committee assignment, would also ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory in state agencies.
The introduction of the bill comes after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general, demanding an end to the practice.
Jim Renacci, a former congressman and potential Republican primary challenger to Gov. Mike DeWine (R), blasted Critical Race Theory at a recent town hall event.
On a broader scale, opposition to Critical Race Theory is growing nationwide.
Tennessee adopted a law banning the practice Monday.
Earlier this month, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07) introduced federal legislation to ban Critical Race Theory from being taught at military academies.
Last week, the Utah legislature passed a resolution condemning the practice.
Georgia’s attorney general rejected President Joe Biden’s call to teach Critical Race Theory in all schools, and Gov. Brian Kemp (R) echoed that sentiment.
Florida has also outlawed teaching Critical Race Theory, and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has been one of America’s most vocal opponents of the curriculum.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
