WARSAW, Ky. — A Northern Kentucky school district became the first in the state of Kentucky to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory this week.
Gallatin County’s School Board voted unanimously to approve the decision.
What You Need To Know
- Gallatin County Schools became the first school district in Kentucky to ban Critical Race Theory
- CRT teaches that many of the United States’ structures and institutions are rooted in racism
- The district’s superintendent says the decision was an effort “to not create greater divisions among students and staff through the promotion of CRT.”
- Proponents of CRT say not allowing it doesn’t paint a full picture of U.S. history for students
The theory teaches that many of the United States’ structures and institutions are rooted in systremic racism.
Earlier in June, Cynthia Young, the department head of African American Studies at Penn State, a proponent of Critical Race Theory, explained her thoughts on the teaching of the theory to Spectrum News 1.
“Physics doesn’t look the same as it did 100 years ago. Similarly, U.S. History doesn’t look the same as it did 50 years ago or 20 years ago,” she said. “Do we really want to educate a generation of children who are learning outdated knowledge that’s not correct?”
CRT is generally not taught in grades K-12, but the idea of it making its way into classrooms has been highly debated as of late.
Republican State Rep. Joe Fischer recently pre-filed a bill that would ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory at all Kentucky schools.
Republican State Rep. Felicia Rabourn, who represents Gallatin County, congratulated the district on Facebook, saying:
"Congratulations Gallatin County School Board! As your State Representative I’m committed to fighting Critical Race Theory. Over the course of the past several weeks I’ve been working on legislation that I plan to introduce prior to the 2022 legislative session- we need to prohibit Critical Race Theory in ALL schools," she wrote.
None of the members of Gallatin County’s School Board have responded to Spectrum News 1’s requests for additional comment, but the district’s superintendent Larry Hammond issued a statement saying:
“Gallatin County Board of Education feels strongly that individual student needs remain a priority in all aspects of planning and service delivery. The Board further expects and promotes student needs being met equitably. Such examples would include contracts to provide increased services to meet mental and behavioral health issues of students without respect of sex, race or socio-economic status.
"The Board also believes no individual is 'inherently racist, sexist or oppressive' due to their race or sex, 'whether consciously or unconsciously.' Agenda item VI.I. from the June 15 BOE meeting “Discussion/Action to Ban Critical Race Theory in Gallatin County School District” was a statement to affirm the belief and commitment to ensure every child’s needs will be met. Furthermore, the effort was to not create greater divisions among students and staff through the promotion of CRT.”