Noem Draft Law Banning Critical Race Theory in Schools | national news

(The Center Square) – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has drafted legislation that would prohibit South Dakota schools and universities from teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT), according to a press release from his office.

The bill comes months after the governor signed a Executive Decree which banned CRT in schools and banned South Dakota Department of Education officials from applying for federal government grants related to history and civic education until after the 2022 legislative session.

Noem said in the July 29 ordinance that it provided that the legislature would ban the curriculum that “requires or encourages students to take a stand against each other on the basis of race, gender or location. ‘historical activity of a student’s race or gender members “and” would prevent schools from politicizing education by prohibiting any program that requires students to demonstrate or lobby during or after school.

The proposed legislation also prevents higher education institutions funded by the Council of Regents or the Council for Higher Education from spending money to teach CRT.

The South Dakota Board of Regents issued a declaration in August, declaring that students would be treated as individuals and not as members of a group.

“Critical race theory is not the basis of education in our state universities, and it will not be. But it’s a label that means different things to different people, ”said Regent Tony Venhuizen. “This is why our board of directors is now taking a step back and articulating the American values ​​that will continue to guide the university system. “

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines CRT as “a group of concepts (such as the idea that race is a sociological rather than a biological designation, and that racism permeates society and is encouraged and perpetuated by the legal system) used to examine the relationship between race and the laws and legal institutions of a country and particularly the United States.

“Our schools should teach our children the true and honest history of our nation,” Noem said. “They should talk about our successes in establishing a country that is a beacon of freedom to the world and about our mistakes along the way. However, our children should not receive the false and divisive message that they are responsible for the shortcomings of past generations and other members of our respective races. “

Other governors announced similar legislation. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a Invoice last week, which would ban the teaching of CRT in schools. DeSantis’ bill would also give parents the right to sue anyone who violates the ban and allow workers to sue companies that provide CRT training.