Classroom critical race theory ban passes in the Upper House
Controversial “critical race theory” content has been cast out of the Australian school curriculum in a divisive Senate vote on Monday evening.
NSW
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The Senate voted Monday night to call on the federal government to keep contentious “critical race theory” doctrines out of the national curriculum.
By a vote of 30-28, the Senate supported a notice of motion put forward by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson calling “on the federal government to reject critical race theory from the national curriculum.”
Critical race theory is a contentious set of doctrines with roots in academia that believes societies like Australia are built on structural racism and that people can be divided into categories of “oppressor” or “oppressed” based on their race, gender, or ethnicity.
A proposed revised version of the Australian Curriculum came under fire earlier this year when critics claimed that it was introducing critical race theory concepts into the classroom and downgrading Australia’s British and Judeo-Christian heritage.
“Thanks to One Nation, the Government has been sent a strong message and is now on the record rejecting critical race theory,” said Senator Hanson.
“Now the fight is on to make sure the Government keeps its word and keeps our children’s schools free of this type of divisive, radical left-wing indoctrination.”
“While many would rather just bury their heads in the sand and ignore this problem, One Nation is at forefront of the fight to ensure the children of Australia receive an education, not an indoctrination.”
The vote in Australia follows the lead of at least five states in the United States where politicians have successfully passed legislation banning critical race theory from schools. Around a dozen other US states are thought to be considering similar actions.
Speaking at a conservative conference in Texas last week, Republican Senator Ted Cruz blasted critical race theory, saying it “says every white person is a racist.”
“Critical race theory says America’s fundamentally racist and irredeemably racist. Critical race theory seeks to turn us against each other and if someone has a different colour skin, seeks to make us hate that person.”
“And let me tell you right now, critical race theory is bigoted, it is a lie and it is every bit as racist as the Klansmen in white sheets,” Senator Cruz said.
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Originally published as Classroom critical race theory ban passes in the Upper House
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