Oklahoma State Senators Introduce Bill To Ban Critical Race Theory From Public Schools And Universities

Several Oklahoma State senators have introduced a bill that would ban Critical Race Theory and similar beliefs from being required teaching and training in public schools and universities.

State Sens. David Bullard, Nathan Dahm, Shane Jett, and Warren Hamilton introduced a bill that would prohibit schools to require teachers, faculty, staff, or enrolled students to “engage in any form of mandatory gender or sexual diversity training or counseling” or any “orientation or requirement that presents any form of race or sex stereotyping or a bias on the basis of race or sex.”

Teachers, administrators, and other staff would also be prohibited from teaching the following concepts:
 

1. one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex,
2. an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously,
3. an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex,
4. members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex,
5. an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex,
6. an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex,
7. any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex, or
8. meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race.

The bill would require the State Board of Education to incorporate these rules and get legislative approval before adopting them.