Jones Introduces Bill to Prohibit Critical Race Theory in K-12 Education

COLUMBUS — State Representative Don Jones (R-Freeport) today introduced HB 322, legislation that will prohibit critical race theory and action civics in Ohio's K-12 curriculum.

House Bill 322 would prohibit any state agency, school district or school from teaching, instructing or training any administrator, teacher, staff, member or employee to adopt or believe any of the following concepts among others:

• One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex
• An individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously
• An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual's race
• An individual's moral standing or worth is necessarily determined by the individual's race or sex
• An individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex
• The advent of slavery in the territory that is now the United States constituted the true founding of the United States
• With respect to their relationship to American values, slavery and racism are anything other than deviations from, betrayals of or failures to live up to the authentic founding principles of the United States, which include liberty and equality. 

“Critical race theory is a dangerous and flat-out wrong theory. It is designed to look at everything from a ‘race first’ lens, which is the very definition of racism. CRT claiming to fight racism is laughable. Students should not be asked to ‘examine their whiteness’ or ‘check their privilege,’” said Jones. “This anti-American doctrine has no place in Ohio’s schools since we passed our founding documents curriculum mandating the Declaration of Independence, Northwest Ordinance, Ohio Constitution and the U.S. Constitution be taught to all students. CRT flies in the face of all of these documents, which as President Lincoln said are ‘based on the proposition that all men are created equal.’ We must protect the integrity of our education system in order to ensure that Ohio’s youth is receiving a top-tier education, which will not be possible if CRT is allowed to be taught in our schools.” 

The bill would also prohibit students from being forced to advocate and lobby for specific positions at the local, state or federal level. It also prohibits the State Board of Education from adopting any model curricula based on these concepts. The bill will make it so that any class that does contain any elements of the above concepts does not count towards state graduation requirements.  

House Bill 322 now awaits a committee assignment.