Raleigh Hightower
Contributing Writer
rhightower@murraystate.edu
Murray State faculty members participated in a virtual panel discussion on Critical Race Theory and proposed Kentucky state legislation on Monday, Oct. 11.
The discussion panel was sponsored by the Department of history, the sociology program and the West Kentucky National Organization for Women.
The faculty members who participated in the discussion include Christine Lidner, assistant professor of history; David Pizzo, professor of history; Kevin Elliot, assistant professor of political science and Jessica Evans, director of assessment and accreditation of the College of Education and Human Services.
Noraa Ransey, senior ethnic minority director of the Kentucky Education Association, was also among those who spoke on the panel. Ransey is a teacher at North Calloway Elementary School and was named “Teacher of the Year” in 2020 by KEA.
The panelists felt the need to host a discussion about Critical Race Theory (CRT) because of the increasing amount of misinformation and misinterpretation of CRT. The panelists also cited they felt an increased need for this discussion following a series of columns about CRT that appeared in the Murray Ledger & Times.
“The central premise is that race is a social construct not a biological fact, and as a social construct, race is often intertwined with politics,” Evans said. “CRT examines law’s role in perpetuating or reproducing racism.”
Pizzo explained that CRT is a form of legal scholarship that examines what has become to be known as “systemic” or “structural” racism. The term “systemic racism” refers to a form of racism embedded in the current and former laws of our nation.
After providing an overview of what CRT is, the panelists discussed two prefiled bills, Bill 60 and Bill 69, that will appear during the next session of the Kentucky Legislature.
Bill 60 would ensure that no public school or public charter school offers any classroom instruction or discussion that incorporates designated concepts related to race, sex and religion. BR 69 is very similar to Bill 60; however, the panelists said Bill 69 is a more “far reaching” bill.
Teaching content found in violation of the bill would be subjected to disciplinary action and schools may be fined up to $5,000 a day until the violation is addressed.
“You wouldn’t know if you were in violation of the law; you wouldn’t know if your job was on the line,” said Elliot.
Ransey said the proposed legislation would severely limit the control that educators have over their curriculum. Panelists also said these bills would freeze discussion on many topics integral to education.
“We do not need legislators telling us what to do and mandating our classrooms,” Ransey said. “I cannot tell you the last time I saw a legislator in my classroom or in my school.”
Pizzo, who teaches classes about the Holocaust, various historical genocides and Nazi Germany, said that this bill would make teaching some of his classes very difficult.
Pizzo also criticized the bill for effectively weaponizing school children to enforce curriculum that complies with the bill. The enforcement of Bills 60 and 69 would rely on parents and guardians reporting misconduct to the Kentucky Attorney General.
“This is all part of a coordinated effort to undermine democracy and is also a distraction from very pressing issues in our democracy,” said Evans.
As the discussion came to a close, the panelists each gave a “takeaway” from the discussion. Evans warned that legislation like this only serves to provoke anger and confusion while silently attacking free speech.
Ransey expressed her frustration with local representatives. Elliot said lawmakers do not know what is best for curriculum and are holding a sword above the heads of educators. Pizzo urged attendees to pursue advocacy to protect the educators.
The panelists are considering hosting a second discussion panel on this topic sometime in January, but have not set an official date.