Gov. Noem introduces expansive anti-critical race theory legislative package

Originally Published on FoxNews.com

Legislative package would ensure that critical race theory is not taught in South Dakota schools

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Wednesday filed an expansive legislative package targeting critical race theory (CRT) in classrooms.

Critics of CRT, which is formally understood as an academic and legal analysis of race recognizing racism as a systemic problem affecting certain areas of society, argue that the movement is divisive in classrooms and separates children into groups of oppressors versus oppressed, privileged and underprivileged.

Noem's bills would ban CRT in public K-12 schools, as well as the application of CRT in higher education training and orientation for students and staff.

The legislative package ensures that "critical race theory will not be taught in [South Dakota] schools, that no one will be taught that someone is better or less than someone else based on their sex or their race, and also that kids can't be compelled to participate in riots or protests or lobbying on a specific agenda," the governor told Fox News Digital in an interview.

Noem believes South Dakota parents are "relieved" that the state still has "common sense."

"[In] the rest of the country, we see people getting engaged that never have before," Noem said. "That means that we end up getting policies in place that protect our kids and make sure that they learn a true and honest history about this country and who they are as an individual…