New line to report critical race theory

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Education launched a hotline last week for people to report classroom lessons that use critical race theory or emotional support curriculum, concepts that have been the target of conservative outrage in recent years.

The Arizona Republic reports the “Empower Hotline” was a key campaign promise of Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, who ran on a platform that promised to focus on math and reading instruction and “declare war” on conversations about emotions and identity.

Arizona residents should report “inappropriate lessons that detract from teaching academic standards,” the department said on its website. That includes topics like social and emotional learning or that could be considered critical race theory.

Critical race theory — a way of thinking about America’s history through the lens of racism — is a hot-button issue for social conservatives who view the concept as an effort to convince white people that they are inherently racist and should feel guilty because of their advantages.

Social and emotional learning involves being taught how thoughts, feelings and behaviors are linked and learning how to control thoughts can lead to positive outcomes.

Studies have shown social and emotional learning programs can improve academic performance, classroom behavior and stress management. But critics say schools use the concept to promote progressive ideas about race, gender and sexuality.

According to Horne, if a staff member is named in a complaint, the department will dispatch an investigator to that school. Investigators will tell the teacher to stop the alleged wrongful instruction and, if they do not do so, will consider discipline through a process laid out by the state board.