Georgia became the latest state to ban discussion on nine “divisive concepts” such as race and also facilitate banning transgender students from entering the girls’ team to play sports.
HB1084 seeks to curb the discussion of race in schools and ban critical race theory, an academic discipline that examines the ways racism operates in the country.
At the bill-signing ceremony, Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp said, “Here in Georgia, our classrooms will not be pawns to those who indoctrinate our kids with their partisan political agendas.”
Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and several other states have passed similar bans, but they don’t mention critical race theory by name.
Apart from prohibition on teaching “divisive concepts”, the Thursday signing included several bills regarding the education policy in the state—parental bill of rights, ban on pornographic books in libraries, expanding civic and financial literacy education, school board transparency requirements, and the controversial requirement that student-athletes compete based on their biological sex, not their gender identity.
Democrats oppose the set of bills, especially the ones related to classroom curriculum and books. They took to Twitter to voice their opinion and posted pictures of rally signs saying “No banning books”.
The bills are seen by many as a political move since Republican Kemp is seeking re-election this year and primary polls show him in the lead.
