Critical race theory seeks to highlight how historical inequities and racism shape public policy and social conditions.
By Ray Stern | Arizona Republic
Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake says she wants to put cameras in Arizona’s classrooms to monitor teachers.
Lake, a former TV news anchor who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump in her bid for governor, talked about her idea in a recent radio interview and during a Nov. 8 meeting in Kingman.
Her comments echo a national movement among some conservatives concerned about “critical race theory” embedded in school curriculums and diversity programs. Supporters of cameras in classrooms include Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson and Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Good of Virginia.
Critical race theory seeks to highlight how historical inequities and racism shape public policy and social conditions. Critics, and sometimes educators themselves, have confused the advanced academic framework with diversity and inclusion efforts in K-12 schools that have also come under scrutiny by Republicans.
This year, Gov. Doug Ducey signed an anti-CRT bill that banned K-12 schools from teaching any curriculum that would create a sense of blame or judgment on people due to their race, ethnicity or sex. The new law was among those thrown out by the state Supreme Court earlier this month because they were, according to the ruling, attached illegitimately to the yearly budget bill.
