Governor bans critical race theory in schools

BATON ROUGE, La. (KTVE / KARD)–Critical Race Theory is not happening in public schools in Louisiana.

Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order banning the subject matter in K through 12 public schools in the state.

Critical race theory is an advanced academic concept that holds that race is socially constructed and it examines how legal structures are used to oppress people of color.

A press release from Landry’s office says Critical Race Theory “includes divisive teachings that instruct students to view life through the lens of race and victimhood.” The release states that “this executive order is a much-needed sigh of relief for parents and students across our state especially as kids are heading back to school. Teaching children that they are currently or destined to be oppressed or an oppressor based on their race or origin is wrong and has no place in Louisiana classrooms.”

Landry’s executive order instructs Superintendent Cade Brumley to review the state Department of Education’s policies and contracts to eliminate anything that endorsed theories that posit that an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive.

The superintendent has also been asked to flag claims that moral character is necessarily determined by someone’s race or sex, or that, by virtue of their race or sex, they bear responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.

Landry also wants Brumley to weed out anything that suggests meritocracy or traits such as strong work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race or sex to oppress another race or sex, or encourages students to discriminate against someone based on any characteristic protected by federal or state law.