Georgia Senate Republicans defend critical race theory bill

Originally Published on the Clayton News Daily

ATLANTA — Republicans in the state Senate Monday defended legislation prohibiting the teaching of critical race theory in Georgia schools from criticism by Democrats that the bill would stifle honest discussion of America's history of systemic racism.

"We're not perfect. Our history is stained with racism," Sen. Bo Hatchett, R-Cornelia, the bill's chief sponsor, told members of the Senate Education and Youth Committee. "In no way shape or form is it my intention to prevent history being taught to students."

Hatchett said the legislation targets nine "divisive concepts" to be prohibited from being taught not only in Georgia's K-12 classrooms, but also in the state's public colleges, universities and technical colleges.

The banned concepts include that any race is inherently superior or inferior to any other, that the United States is a systemically racist country or that any individual is inherently racist.

The bill would provide a process for students, teachers or parents to file a complaint if they believe the law is being violated. Failure to comply could subject an offending school or school system to lose 10% of its state funding…