An obvious amendment to Republican anti-DEI bills
Sen. Sophia Chitlik seeks clarity on SB 558 - legislation eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Ed. (Photo: Screengrab from NCGA video)
As part of their ongoing effort to manipulate and capitalize on irrational white voter fears, state Republican lawmakers are advancing legislation this session that purports to attack quote 'DEI' in public education.
Under the bill, state law would spell out a long list of supposedly 'divisive concepts' that would be banned from public schools. For example, the bill says it will be illegal to teach that a quote 'meritocracy' — whatever that is — is inherently 'racist' or 'sexist' — two words that are also not defined.
Of course, the purpose of this impossibly vague language is no mystery — it's to discourage educators from discussions of America's grim past on matters of race that might make white students uncomfortable.
And that would be a tragic mistake.
A simple amendment would help. Lawmakers should add a word to the bill to make clear that teaching divisive concepts is banned, but only if they are untrue.
The bottom line: Discussion of hard truths is an essential part of education that our kids can handle. Would that GOP lawmakers could as well.
For NC Newsline, I'm Rob Schofield.
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