NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
By Mary Jo Pitzl |Arizona Republic
Arizona teachers — from elementary school to state universities — would have to avoid lessons that blame or judge anyone based on race or ethnicity under a bill that emerged from a heated debate at the Arizona House on Wednesday.
Emotions ran high as lawmakers argued over House Bill 1412, Arizona’s version of the wave of anti-critical race theory instruction that has swept statehouses nationwide.
Among other things, the bill prevents instruction that says one race or ethnic group is inherently morally or intellectually superior to another race or ethnic race, or that anyone’s moral character is shaped by their race or ethnicity.
A teacher who is found to have violated the bill’s restrictions could face disciplinary action, up to and including loss of their teaching license. Schools could face fines of up to $5,000. Students, parents of students and employees of the school could file complaints that instruction guidelines were violated.
Republicans, who voted unanimously for the bill, chafed at the implication that they were punishing teachers.
‘History is messy’:Some teachers worry ‘critical race theory bills’ threaten AP classes
“Someone said let teachers teach,” Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said, adding he agrees. “But don’t let them spill vile, racist bile on our children.”
