MO Republicans seek to ban critical race theory, establish patriotism training for teachers
Missouri Republican lawmakers are seeking to ban schools from teaching lessons on the role of systemic racism in the U.S. while also creating a program to promote American patriotism.
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Koenig, a Manchester Republican, seeks to explicitly ban the teaching of critical race theory, a college-level academic concept that examines the role of institutions in perpetuating racism. The academic theory is not widely taught in Missouri’s K-12 schools, but the phrase has become a shorthand among hard-right conservatives for any lesson that delves into systemic racism’s role in U.S. history or politics.
The legislation, under consideration Wednesday by the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee, has been decried by activists and Democrats. Opponents say it puts new burdens on teachers and seeks only to exploit anger over hot-button issues over teachings on race and gender issues.
Heather Fleming, director of Missouri Equity Education Partnership, a coalition of groups that has pushed back against the GOP-dominated legislature’s attempts to oversee school curriculum, said that while the formal theory isn’t widely taught in schools Republicans are using its name to target lessons on the issue of racism.
“I’m concerned about the narrative that some of these laws create, which is that it’s OK to do harm to some students, in order to make sure that other students are not made to feel uncomfortable or not made to think critically about issues that may or may not impact them,” Fleming said.
The bill would empower parents to file complaints with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education if they believe a teacher has violated the ban on critical race theory.
Koenig’s bill also calls on the education department to create a training program to “prepare teachers to teach the principles of American civics and patriotism.” Teachers that take the program would be eligible for a $3,000 bonus.
The legislation follows a nationwide push by Republicans to assert control over students’ education by banning lessons related to systemic racism while also pushing a more positive view of the nation’s history. Former President Donald Trump in 2020 created a “1776 Commission” that sought to teach students a patriotic view of American history, running counter to lessons about race and slavery.
In 2021, Sen. Josh Hawley filed legislation to promote “Patriotism, Love for Country, and Push Back on Critical Race Theory in Schools.”
Koenig told The Star Wednesday that his proposed patriotic program is not trying to hide any bad parts of history, and it is necessary to learn some of the bad.
“I believe our form of government is the best form of government and that should be taught to kids, that our form of government is the best,” Koenig said.
Similar bills crafted around the culture-war debate have failed to pass in recent years amid bitter infighting among Missouri Republicans. But some lawmakers say the policy may have enough momentum this year with more hard-right senators joining the upper chamber.
Todd Fuller, a spokesperson for the Missouri State Teachers Association, said that critical race theory and debates over whether schools are transparent enough are taking focus away from the pressing issues of teacher retention.
He said if lawmakers talked to teachers in Missouri, they would hear that critical race theory is not widely taught and transparency is already a priority.
“Our teachers are transparent about what’s taking place in their classroom. They want parents to know and they want parents to be involved,” Fuller said.
This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 12:25 PM.
