Georgia House panel passes bill banning 'divisive concepts' in public schools

educators push back on bill

The Georgia House Education Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, voted 13-7 for House Bill 1084, which bans teaching a list of items originally listed in a now-repealed 2020 executive order by former President Donald Trump. (Photo via Pixabay)

A Georgia House committee on Wednesday passed a bill banning the teaching of “divisive concepts” in the state’s public schools as conservatives continue to say the state needs to block teachers from fomenting racial division.

The House Education Committee voted 13-7 for House Bill 1084, which bans teaching a list of items originally listed in a now-repealed 2020 executive order by former President Donald Trump. It now moves to the full House for more debate. Republicans are reacting against critical race theory, a term stretched from its original meaning as an examination of how societal structures perpetuate white dominance to a broader indictment of diversity initiatives and teaching about race.

The committee also voted 13-6 to pass House Bill 1178, its version of a parent bill of rights backed by Gov. Brian Kemp, after the full Senate passed the same bill Tuesday.