The saving grace of not banning CRT lessons

Every article detailing the push to ban critical race theory from Arizona schools should begin by pointing out – emphatically – that critical race theory is not taught in Arizona schools. Never has been. Isn’t now.

For some Republican politicians, critical race theory is a convenient political boogie man, a misunderstood trope that should be bracketed by air quotes when mentioned.

The bill banning “critical race theory” that was passed recently by the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature was predicated on a “Way Off Base Theory.”

Why ban a course of study that isn’t taught in the first place? It doesn’t make sense.

Except when we look a little closer and see that the same kind of prohibitions are being passed by GOP-dominated legislatures across the country. It’s all part of a well-orchestrated “Let’s Erase History Theory.”

The bills have been constructed in a way to prohibit an honest review of our nation’s history. As if pretending that things weren’t a certain way in the past will make it so.

In vetoing the bill, Gov. Katie Hobbs, using language straight from the “Complete Disgrace Theory,” said, “It is time to stop pushing students and teachers into cultural wars based on fearmongering and evidence-free accusation.”

The bill’s sponsor Republican state Sen. J.D. Mesnard, responding by way of the “Blue in the Face Theory,” saying, “I’m deeply disheartened by Governor Hobbs’ choice to condone these discriminatory teachings our kids are being exposed to, by vetoing my bill. As lawmakers, we are called to protect the vulnerable, including impressionable and innocent kids. Her action today is a slap in the face to parents who came forward with serious concerns about the racism being taught in their children’s classrooms.”

Then again, when asked by a local TV station, Mesnard could not provide specific examples of a school teaching critical race theory.

(An example of the “No Saving Face

Theory.”)

Critical race theory, when studied, is done in a university setting. It investigates how racism has not simply been a matter of individual bias, but how elements of it were embodied in the legal system, and what ongoing effect that may have.

History is complicated. We shouldn’t hide from it. The bill Gov. Hobbs vetoed would have put teachers at risk of being disciplined and perhaps forced to pay thousands of dollars in fines simply for telling students the truth.

At a very young age most of us heard from a teacher some version of the saying that goes, essentially, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

That’s true.

Knowledge makes us better. Knowledge helps us move forward.

It’s our “Saving Grace Theory.”