Oklahoma Board of Education approves crackdown on teaching critical race theory

Oklahoma’s Board of Education voted Monday to prohibit K-12 public school teachers from discussing eight different concepts about race — with violators potentially having their teaching license suspended.

Under the new law, teachers are prohibited from telling students that an individual is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive by virtue of their race or sex, either consciously or unconsciously. The law also prohibits teaching that any individual should feel discomfort or guilt on account of his or her race or sex, or that anyone should be discriminated against solely or partly because of their race or sex. Though the new law does not mention the words "critical race theory," Republicans who authored the bill said it targeted the concept. Critical race theory argues that racism, especially white supremacy, underpins America’s history, laws and institutions. Democrats in the Legislature who opposed the bill argued it was a waste of time and addressed a non-existent problem. The bill sailed through both houses of the state legislature, where Republicans hold a supermajority.