CBS2 reports the Idaho House of Representatives voted 57 to 12 Thursday to pass HB 377, a bill that would forbid the teaching of “critical race theory” in Idaho education.
It now heads to the Senate.
Supporters of the bill say it would defend students from indoctrination in “critical race theory” which is an “emerging issue and a coming onslaught” as the “federal government is working to take over Idaho curriculum.”
Opponents say it would stifle First Amendment rights, confuse and intimidate students as well as teachers.
And the bill says “no moneys shall be expended by the State Board of Education, any entity under the State Board of Education’s jurisdiction, or any school district, public charter school, or public institution of higher education for any purpose” prohibited by the bill.
But during a public hearing Thursday in the committee, one of the biggest questions was how to define critical race theory.
The bill is a version on an earlier bill that was pulled from committee this week and rewritten.
The legislation would prohibit public schools from spending money for “certain purposes” it deems discriminatory. Those “purposes” include compelling students to “adhere to” any of three tenants the bill argues are “often found in ‘critical race theory.’”
They are are follows:
That any sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior
That individuals should be adversely treated on the basis of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin
That individuals, by virtue of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin, are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin.
Originally written and posted by CBS2 (idahonews.com)
