The ideology of anti-racism, including critical racial theories, is pervasively gaining ground in school education in the United States. As part of the curriculum adopted in this spirit, students learn that white people are oppressors and inherently racist, with critical race theories being based on a perspective that examines society through a racial lens.
One state in the US has now decided to put an end to promoting leftist ideologies. The governor of Oklahoma has recently signed a bill that prohibits teachers and administrators from teaching critical race theories in public schools in the state. The law will enter into force on 1 July.
The law aims to eliminate any form of discrimination based on race or sex. Among many other things, Oklahoma’s law prohibits teaching that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex” or that “an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously”.
The new law also sets out that “members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex”. In line with the new legislation, it will be forbidden to teach that “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” – something white people often fall victim to these days.
Republican Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt said the new legislation was necessary because public schools should foster an environment of unity, instead of promoting ideas that divide students along racial lines. He added that taxpayer money should not be used to define and divide young Oklahomans about their race or sex. He “refuses to tolerate” the “labelling a young child as an ‘oppressor'” or making students feel “guilt” or “shame” because of their race.
Idaho was the first US state whose governor signed legislation against the critical race theory. It did not ban the ideology and allows teaching it, but prohibits forcing belief systems onto students that claim that a group of people – as defined by sex, race, ethnicity or religion – are inferior or superior to others.
Several states have either already passed legislation or are currently advancing measures that would ban or limit the teaching of critical race theory in public schools, including Tennessee, Arizona and Texas.
The harm in teaching such principles was recently highlighted by a teacher of a private school in Manhattan. Paul Rossi felt the need to share his views with the public on teaching about race theory and racism in schools.
“My school is asking me to embrace ‘antiracism’ training and pedagogy that I believe is deeply harmful to them (the students),” and one that “requires teachers like myself to treat students differently on the basis of race,” he wrote. He was eventually relieved of his teaching duties for voicing his opinion.