PLACENTIA, Calif. (KNX) — A group of school district board members in Orange County voted Tuesday to move forward with a ban on the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
The 4-1 decision by the board of trustees comes at a time when critical race theory — an analytical framework of legal scholarship that examines the intersection of race and justice in the United States — is not presently included in curricula for any Placentia or Yorba Linda public schools.
Speaking during public comment, some proponents of the ban said CRT philosophy attacks the constitution of the United States and all laws that have been written because they were written by “what is claimed to be a white man,” according to Donna Potter.
Others, like Andy Falco Jimenez, said the teaching of CRT puts blames on students of a certain color.
“I learned about slavery [in school], I learned about the bad things of this Country all the time. I learned how we bombed the heck out of a Japanese Island…how we kept Japanese Americans in indoctrination camps...but they didn’t then turn around and say ‘it’s your fault, child’” Jimenez said.
“So I don’t know what it is when people think we need to learn the true history of our Country. I learned the true history of our country. But they didn't turn it around and say that it was all my fault.”
Those against the banning of CRT took a different interpretation entirely, and said there is value in learning about past transgressions.
“Resolution 21-12 states that the district desires to ‘uplift and unite students by freeing them from the responsibilities of historical transgressions in the past and instead will engage students of all cultures in age-appropriate critical thinking, ’” Julie, whose last name was inaudible, said.
“How can you think critically if you don’t learn uncomfortable truths about historical events? Ignoring transgressions does not make them go away.”
When the ban was first put on the table, district officials said the theory was not being taught in classrooms. Regardless, parents on both sides of the argument have said CRT is absolutely present in the district — and have voiced both opposition and support.
Priya Shaw spoke for 232 parents, district staff members and students who could not be present Tuesday night, saying that all of them had signed a petition opposing the ban, and explaining that if CRT is banned — other teachings in the same categories, like the district’s U.S. History classes and the district’s International Baccalaureate program - must also be banned.
“Critical Race Theory, as defined in [resolution 21-12], is one among many intellectual movements that have been adopted in higher education over the past 30 years. That means these theories and methods of inquiry have passed thousands of peer-reviewed panels at the most prestigious journals, conferences and scholarly societies,” Shaw said.
“There’s absolute consensu that what CRT [supports] is sound — race is a social construct, not a biological reality. Furthermore there is a consensus that racism is inherent in the legal institutions of the U.S. insofar as they function to create and maintain equality. If you ban this, AP U.S. History has to be banned as so does the [district’s] IB program.”
The board of trustees 4-1 vote Tuesday was based on a first reading. The resolution will next have to go back to the board in January for another vote before being finalized, according to the Voice of O.C.
A future study session will be held to plan how a banning of CRT will be implemented.
Follow KNX 1070 Newsradio
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Related
