[Guest post by Jonathan Small]
Throughout the debate over Critical Race Theory, or CRT, education officials have insisted CRT
is not part of classroom instruction. Now the National Education Association
(NEA), the parent organization of Oklahoma’s largest teachers’ union, has made
clear that was a lie.
At the NEA’s recent
annual meeting and representative assembly, delegates voted to promote and
support CRT in the classroom. One business item explicitly called for
“increasing the implementation” of Critical Race Theory and similar material in
“curriculum in pre-K-12 and higher education.”
Another measure
required the union to “identify, compile, and share” existing “decolonizing the
curriculum” resources with “educators seeking to be anti-racist in their
classrooms.” Another item called on the union to share and publicize
“information already available on critical race theory” and have “a team of
staffers” dedicated to helping union members “fight back against anti-CRT
rhetoric.” That proposal also required the union to make clear the union’s
members “oppose attempts to ban critical race theory and/or The 1619 Project.”
You don’t devote
that much time, effort, and resources to defending and promoting something that
doesn’t exist.
Fortunately,
Oklahoma lawmakers have taken a stand against Critical Race Theory in public
schools. A new state law, House Bill 1775, bans Oklahoma public schools from
teaching concepts associated with CRT, including that “an individual, by virtue
of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive” and
should therefore face discrimination.
The focus now shifts
to effective enforcement, which requires swift action by the State Board of
Education. The board must approve agency regulations that will guide how the
State Department of Education addresses instances in which teachers ignore the
law. As chair of the board, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy
Hofmeister controls the state board’s agenda and should make certain this issue
is addressed.
Critics continue to
insist Critical Race Theory is not part of classroom instruction in Oklahoma
schools. But some Oklahoma teachers and administrators have publicly
signed petitions vowing they will ignore HB 1775’s prohibitions.
Again, if you’re not teaching students that they are
“inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive” based on their skin color or gender,
why would obeying HB 1775 be objectionable?
Given the NEA’s open embrace of Critical Race Theory and the
insistence of some Oklahoma teachers that they will disregard a law saying
children should not be taught that individuals “should be discriminated against
or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or
sex,” it is undeniable that the threat of government-sanctioned racism in the
classroom is a reality.
Our nation has made great strides in race relations since
its founding. To allow CRT in the classroom would surrender those gains and
dishonor the memory of countless Americans of all races who led the way on
civil rights.
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