While video clips go viral of outraged citizens, some of them with anger stoked on other issues like Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and with overly political administrations, other people are quietly disabling the power of Critical Race Theory (CRT) through legislative actions that get fewer clicks but may actually be more powerful.
While protest is a time-honored activity and an important optic for rallying support to a cause, it is not the only tool Americans have to change the things they do not like. Legislative action is unfolding around the country as well. In one case, people have the choice to leave the public schools, thereby crippling their funding, and in another case, people have the right to introduce bills that force curriculums to reflect alternative points of view to CRT.
Case one in North Carolina where David Bass reported for the Carolina Journal about a recent celebration of charter schools in the state, reminding people that in North Carolina, parents still have choices and freedom in education.
“Twenty-five years ago this week, the Tar Heel State legalized the creation of public charter schools. School choice advocates came together in Raleigh on Tuesday, June 22, to celebrate the milestone and highlight the impact of charter schools on families and students during the last quarter-century.
“There is a philosophical war underway right now,” said Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, at a press conference. “It’s between bureaucrats and unions on one side who would like to force all children into one educational system controlled by those bureaucrats, and parents and children on the other side who wish to have a say in that child’s education.”
Today, more than 8% of N.C. public school students — around 126,000 in total — are enrolled in 200 charter schools located in 65 counties across the state. Demand continues to outpace supply as more than 76,000 names are on the waitlist for charters,”
Case Two is in Florida where the Epoch Times reports:
“New Law Requires Florida Students to Be Taught About ‘The Evils of Communism’
DeSantis signs trio of bills on civics education in K-12 schools, and freedom of speech in postsecondary education”
High school students in Florida will be required to learn about “the evils of communism” under one of three bills Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on Tuesday.
DeSantis signed the bills at a news conference at Three Oaks Middle School in Fort Myers. Two of the bills—HB 5 and SB 1108—focus on civics education, and the third—HB 233—requires freedom of expression at state colleges and universities.
Specifically, HB 5 requires the Florida Department of Education to develop an integrated K-12 civic education curriculum that includes teaching students about citizens’ shared rights under the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The measure also adds a requirement for public high schools to “include a comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States.”
In short, high schools must provide “instruction on the evils of communism and totalitarian ideology,” DeSantis said, noting that there are Florida residents who have escaped totalitarian regimes and communist dictatorships, such as from Cuba and Vietnam, to live in America.
“We want all students to understand the difference,” he said. “Why would somebody flee across shark-infested waters … why would people leave these countries and risk their lives to be able to come here? It’s important that students understand that.”
HB 5 will also provide a “Portraits in Patriotism” library with resources that include personal stories of “real patriots who came to this country after seeing the horrors of these communist regimes,” DeSantis said.
The Republican governor also signed SB 1108, which requires state college and university students to undergo both a civic literacy course and a civic literacy assessment in order to graduate. Prior to this bill, students were only required to do one—either the course or the assessment.
Kari is an ex-Community Organizer who writes about Cultural Marxism, grassroots activism, music, IndyCar racing and political campaigns. @Saorsa1776
