The Texas state Senate passed a bill on May 22 that prohibits schools from mandating the teaching of critical race theory (CRT).
According to the bill text, teachers, administrators, and employees from state agencies, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools are prohibited from teaching students that one race is inherently superior to another race or sex or that an individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive by virtue of his or her race or sex.
A teacher “may not [be] compelled to discuss current events or widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs” in social studies curriculum in Texas history, U.S. history, world history, government, civics, social studies, or similar subjects, according to the bill.
If teachers choose to discuss the above topics, they must explore those topics from diverse and contending perspectives and can’t give deference to any one perspective.
The bill also requires the State Board of Education to adopt civic education to help students’ understanding of the moral, political, and intellectual foundations of U.S. history and tradition, and the founding documents of the United States.
The Lone Star State’s lower chamber passed the bill on May 11 but will have to approve it again in alignment with revisions made by the state Senate.
CRT—which espouses the idea that race is not natural, but socially constructed to oppress and exploit minorities—is an offshoot of the quasi-Marxist critical theory social philosophy that was promoted by the Frankfurt school of thought.
Then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning CRT training in federal agencies in September 2020, with the White House describing it as “anti-American propaganda.”
However, the socialist ideology has been embraced by President Joe Biden and his administration. Biden reversed Trump’s September 2020 executive order after entering the White House and pushed CRT training on all fronts.
The Biden administration’s efforts triggered widespread pushback from federal and state Republican lawmakers, conservatives, and related organizations, as well as parents.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation applauded the state Legislature’s move, saying it will protect students.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office didn’t reply to an email from The Epoch Times asking if the governor will sign the bill into law.
“Texans reject critical race theory and other so-called ‘woke’ philosophies that maintain that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex or that any individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive,” he said. “These divisive concepts have been inserted into curriculums around the state, but they have no place in Texas schools.”
