Critics of Georgia’s new 'divisive concepts' law say it could cause confusion

As Georgia public schools resume classes, they have new laws to follow this year. One of them, House Bill 1084, bans educators from teaching so-called “divisive concepts.” The law’s critics say the language is vague, which is likely to cause confusion among educators.

HB 1084 bans nine concepts. Some are straightforward. For example, teachers can’t say one race is superior to another. Others are more controversial: educators can’t teach that the U.S. is fundamentally racist. Brock Boone, an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center, says that language is unclear.  

“Whenever laws are vague and confusing, and teachers and educators face fear of violating something, it has the result of silencing speech,” he says.