Utah Gov. Spencer Cox recently applauded the state legislature for encouraging a ban on Critical Race Theory and similar concepts in public education. While not encouraging an outright ban of the theory, the House and Senate held their own “extraordinary sessions” to ensure that certain concepts are not taught in schools.
The two resolutions have urged the Utah State Board of Education to ban harmful CRT concepts that would degrade societal values and harm students’ learning in the public education system.
Despite Democrats walking out of the House Chamber in protest and an outcry from social justice activists who gathered outside the Capitol, Republican lawmakers stood firm in their ground stating that these teachings have “no fixed size and no fixed shape,” and no place in public education. Gov. Cox said that the main issue with Critical Race Theory is that no one really knows how to define it in the school curriculum and that certain portions of it are “problematic.”
According to critical race theory, “race is not biologically real but is socially constructed and socially significant.” The theory talks about how racism is a “normal feature of society” and that it is embedded within all systems and institutions, including the legal system.
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, the sponsor of the Senate resolution, said he hopes the two resolutions will “turn the temperature down” on heated debates and demonstrate what Utah’s teaching of race and culture should look like. Republican Sen. Jake Anderegg, a father in a mixed-race family, became emotional when voicing his support for the bills.
“I have several non-Caucasian children, and so the topic of race is something that is often discussed, you know, ‘Why are my eyes different than yours?’ … And I have no doubt we will have further conversations. I just think that everybody should stop for a second and breathe, and realize that that’s what we do up here, is talk about these issues,” Anderegg said.
Sen. Anderegg acknowledged that the U.S has a history of racism and slavery, but that there needs to be a balanced approach to make sure kids are getting facts, not theories. He said they can “strike that balance” when they sit down, take a breath, lower the temperature, and have a frank discussion. The governor also argued that hot-button issues need “more time, thought, dialogue, and input” and urged state residents to turn off the television and take the cable news out of their media diets.
“We would all be better off if people would stop watching cable news, whether it’s CNN or Fox News or MSNBC. Pick whatever one you’re addicted to. I’m eight years sober, and it’s been one of the best things that I’ve ever done. I’d just encourage people to turn that off and talk to real people about the issues, not listening to the talking heads who make their money by making you outraged. It’s unhealthy personally and it’s certainly unhealthy for our democratic republic,” Gov. Cox said.
The House and Senate urged the State School board to ensure that certain concepts are not being taught in classrooms, including that “one race is inherently superior or inferior to another race,” that “an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of the individual’s race,” or that “an individual’s moral character is determined by the individual’s race.
Mark Huntsman, the president of the Utah State Board of Education, said Critical Race Theory is not what Utah’s public education is about and it’s not where it’s going. He said they have no plan for a curriculum that includes reverse racism or anti-American sentiments.
Critical Race Theory has been nothing more than a bunch of radical left conspiracy theories meant to divide the American people, claim that America is a fundamentally racist nation and that all White people are inherently racist. Nothing more than to push a Democratic agenda.
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