Louisiana introduces bill to ban teaching of Critical Race Theory topics like 'institutional racism'
A Louisiana state legislator introduced a bill to stop the teaching of “divisive concepts.”
Other states are enacting similar proposals in the mold of President Trump’s 2020 executive order.
A Louisiana state lawmaker introduced a bill to ban schools from teaching the “divisive concepts” of critical race theory at state-funded schools.
State Rep. Ray Garofalo (R-LA) filed the legislation, which addresses “certain concepts related to race and sex in elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary education institutions,” on April 2.
[RELATED: Marco Rubio targets Confucius Institutes with new bill]
The bill bans a litany of “divisive concepts,” including the notions that “one race or sex is inherently superior or inferior to another race or sex,” that “an individual should be discriminated against, favored, or receive differential treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s race or sex,” and that “an individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, bears responsibility or is to be held accountable for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.”
Furthermore, teachers are disallowed from teaching that meritocracy or capitalism inherently originate with any particular race or sex. Educators are not to state that “the concepts of capitalism, free markets, or working for a private party in exchange for wages are racist and sexist or oppress a given race or sex.”
The legislation would also stop teachers from alleging that “either the United States of America or the state of Louisiana is fundamentally, institutionally, or systemically racist or sexist.”
Rep. Garofalo’s bill would apply to public postsecondary institutions and nonpublic postsecondary institutions that receive state funds.
Lawmakers across the country are making similar proposals following the growing popularity of critical race theory and so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion” trainings.
[RELATED: University of Oregon promises to ignore Trump’s critical race theory executive order]
Most recently, Iowa legislators proposed a bill that would defund any school forwarding the tenets of Nikole Hannah-Jones’ 1619 Project.
Many such pieces of legislation stem from President Trump’s “Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping,” which barred federal agencies from instituting or funding diversity trainings that taught false narratives about race, sex, or the United States.
Campus Reform reached out to Rep. Garofalo for comment; this article will be updated accordingly.
Follow this author on Twitter: @BenZeisloft
