The school district “opposes and opposes any legislation” against critical race theory in classrooms — arguing that bills would prevent educators from teaching students accurately about history

On Tuesday, a Pennsylvania school district voted unanimously to oppose any possible future legislation that would prohibit educators from teaching students critical race theory. Fox News Digital reported.

The Pittsburgh School District passed a resolution declaring that it would oppose any laws the board deems “harmful,” including House bill 1532which, if passed, would ban teachers from discussing “racist and sexist concepts.”

About the legislation

HB 1532, the Teaching Racial and Universal Equality Act, would prevent educators from teaching students that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex” or that “a person is by reason of his race or sex is inherently racist or sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.”

According to the law’s description, HB 1532 seeks to put an end to the “divisive nature of concepts commonly known as ‘critical race theory'” taught to children in schools.

The bill argues that CRT “further divides us by making the invariable characteristics of race and gender a major factor in how we view others — quite the opposite of Dr. [Martin Luther] royal dream.”

The Pittsburgh School District votes to defy the law

After voting unanimously to pass a resolution objecting to laws banning CRT, Board Member Devon Taliaferro said WTAE TV, “I think this resolution is really important because it also tells our lawmakers in Harrisburg that you can’t choose how we educate our students and the environments that we create for them.”

“[Students] deserve to learn exactly about our history. Read books that represent their heritage or culture and discover who they are and how they identify,” Taliaferro said. “Most importantly, they deserve leaders who stand up for their rights and make decisions on their behalf that contribute to their academic and personal systems.”

The school district argued that anti-CRT laws would prevent teachers from fostering an environment of belonging and accurately teaching history to students. The district also noted that educators are not permitted to teach gender identity and sexual orientation.

“The district officially opposes and opposes any legislation that suppresses classroom discussion, promotes fear, intolerance and hatred, and devalues ​​staff, students and families of color, and LGBTQ+ students, staff and families,” the district wrote in a press release.

The Pittsburgh School District plans to mail the resolution to the bill’s sponsors and the governor.