Starting next year, Tennessee teachers will have to restrict their instruction on race and racism under recently passed legislation that Gov. Bill Lee is expected to sign into law.
The legislation allows the state education commissioner to withhold funds from schools and districts where teachers promote certain concepts that have been associated with critical race theory. Through the use of data and storytelling, critical race theory raises awareness about how racism and bias affect individuals and society.
Amng other concepts, the law would prevent schools from teaching:
> “An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.”
> “An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.”