Op-ed: Anti-Stereotyping Act strengthens public schools, promotes teaching history
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Much has been written about the Anti-Stereotyping Act that I recently introduced, which passed out of the Education Committee in the West Virginia House of Delegates. If you were to listen to those speaking against the bill, you would think that the purpose of the bill is the exact opposite of what the bill would actually do.
The bill has a few basic components. First, it addresses stereotyping. It would prohibit schools from promoting or endorsing stereotypes based on race, sex, ethnicity, religion or national origin. The bill would not allow schools to teach that one race, sex, ethnicity, religion or national origin is inherently superior or inferior. The bill would also not allow schools to teach the erroneous notion that one's moral character is determined by his or her race, sex, ethnicity, religion or national origin. The bill ensures that our schools cannot teach that a person should be blamed or held responsible for actions committed by their ancestors.
Secondly, the bill goes on to say that the public has a right to know when issues involving terms and concepts like nondiscrimination, diversity, equity, inclusion, race, ethnicity, sex or bias are going to be discussed. This includes making public both the author and organization involved in the publication of the instructional material, along with a brief description of the material.
Is this consistent with what you've heard about the Anti-Stereotyping Act? Many of those who are speaking out against the bill either have not read it or are purposely misleading the public about what it says. One editorial printed in another paper claimed that the bill "would require educators to submit their entire years' worth of lesson plans by June 30 for a public review." One fellow delegate approached me about teachers contacting him on this. Had the author read the bill, she would have known this is blatantly false. The bill passed out of the Education Committee expressly states "that the teacher may not be required to provide his or her lesson plans."
Think about that for a second. Information is being said about the bill that is completely untrue, and as a result the public is being misled. Much of what former President Trump said could have been worded better at times. However, this is the same sort of games that were played on him. Media figures would state outright falsehoods, or they would claim a statement he said means something different than what he actually said.
What prompted me to introduce the legislation were reports of what is happening throughout the country. Since introducing the legislation others have come forward to me with examples in West Virginia. Most notably, a Wheeling Park High School teacher stated in a video that the works of Abram X. Kendi were being used to teach high school students.
What does Dr. Kendi believe? He has said "the life of racism cannot be separated from the life of capitalism," and "in order to truly be anti-racist, you also have to truly be anti-capitalist." Dr. Kendi in an interview in 2020 said he supports defunding the police. Dr. Kendi has said Donald Trump is racist. I graduated from West Virginia public schools. My parents would not have approved of me being taught that to be anti-racist you have to be anti-capitalist, that a recent former president is a racist, or that defunding the police is okay. Are these ideas being incorporated into diversity education in West Virginia? The bill seeks to address this question by providing for greater openness when diversity issues are discussed.
The bill in plain language is clear about what we should and should not be teaching to our kids. Nothing in the bill prohibits history from being taught. In fact, the bill ensures actual history is taught. Jim Crow laws, the Holocaust and Slavery -- along with the evils of these institutions -- can and should be taught.
Nothing in the bill prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion from being discussed. What cannot be taught is that one race, sex, ethnicity, religion or national origin is inherently superior or inferior. What cannot be taught is that one's moral character is determined by his or her race, sex, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. What cannot be taught is that a person should be blamed for actions committed by their ancestors.
As the recent election in Virginia demonstrates, most parents do not want kids indoctrinated with ideas contrary to the ideals of our country. Most do not want Marxist ideas incorporated into school curriculum on the pretense of diversity. Instead, they want their children to be taught actual history. If parents believe concepts adverse to basic American values are being promoted in public schools, then many will seek other alternatives for education. The Anti-Stereotyping Act makes this less likely to happen, which strengthens our public schools.
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Del Chris Pritt, R-Kanawha, is a member of the House Banking and Insurance, Judiciary, and Technology and Infrastructure committees.