Timeline of the bill
- What does this mean for teachers and what they can teach?
- Give personal opinions on certain topics related to the founding of the United StatesRestricts teachers from discussing current events or widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs
- Teachers cannot teach concepts such as:
- 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, 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;
- An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individual’s race or sex
- Example: 1619 project
- Teachers can’t award a grade/extra credit /course credit or include currently controversial issues in the class
- Teachers can’t work for or be affiliated with organizations engaged in lobbying for legislation, social or public policy advocacy, political activism, etc.
- Teachers can’t undergo training that presents any form of race or sex-stereotyping or blame on the basis of race or sex
- The state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school can’t accept private funding for the purpose of developing a curriculum or providing teacher training/development for a course on current controversial issues relating to public policy or social affairs
- According to the policy fellows from Intercultural Development Research Association
- HB 3979 is not only about critical race theory, but also about the whitewashing of history, overreaching into classrooms
- Its true intent is to target communities of color, gender/racial minorities
- Not just in Texas, but a Nationwide Movement
- Besides Texas, five more other states have already passed similar bills banning the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 schools. At the same time, many more states are trying to pass similar bills and fining teachers for teaching CRT. Family alliances in Nevada even asked teachers to wear body cameras.
- Idaho bill includes barring teaching the theory in higher-education institutions.
- Representative Dan Bishop and Senator Tom Cotton tried to introduce the bill to the federal level to fully defund critical race theory.
- For more information: check out the Elements and Timeline of HB 3979!