Legislation is filed that would ban K-12 schools from teaching “Divisive Concepts” one of which being that the United States or the State of Louisiana is institutionally or systemically racist.
House Education Committee Chairman Ray Garofalo said the bill would ensure a traditional classroom environment that does not favor any student above or below another student based on race, gender, or national origin.
“We have for a long time seen that a lot of our students, and faculty, staff employees, are being judged for things that they say because of race, sex, or national origin,” said Garofalo. “We thought that if this bill had been brought in the 60s it would have been hailed as a major achievement.”
The bill has received pushback from racial justice advocates who call for teaching students that the US, through slavery, was founded on racism and has maintained a legacy of systemic racism that is still reflected in disparate outcomes for minorities compared to whites. Garofalo disagreed with that interpretation of US history.
“I have not seen evidence that we are fundamentally racist,” said Garofalo. “Do we have problems with racism? Absolutely, but is it systematic is it fundamental, is it institutionalized? I have not seen evidence that that is the case.”
Other “Divisive Concepts” include teaching that an individual’s race or sex makes them inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, or that the concepts of meritocracy or capitalism are racist or sexist, along with other topics.
The legislation would also apply to trainings provided to teachers and school staff. While the language includes higher education Garofalo said the jury is still out on whether this legislation would impact post-secondary education due to that typically being the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents.
Comments