Prohibition on Teaching “Divisive Concepts” (H 6070)

Noting that this bill was not only an assault on free speech but that it would inappropriately quash important teaching and conversation around such issues as institutional racism or sexism, we opposed legislation which sought to ban the teaching of “divisive topics” in public schools. Among other things, the bill would have banned the teaching of subjects that could cause “discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress” to an individual on account of their race or sex, language so vague and subjective that it was inherently unenforceable and a direct assault on academic freedom. Thankfully, the bill died in committee.