There is $6m from Donald Trump’s administration sitting on the table in Idaho, and trying to pick it up has caused an extraordinary uproar. In the months since a Republican house of representatives member first brought the grant for early childhood education to the legislature for a vote, far-right opponents have insisted, despite evidence and assurances proving otherwise, that the grant would be used to “indoctrinate” children five and under,.
Intensity of Idaho childcare battle shows rise in extremism, post-Trump msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Proponents of critical race theory say it’s a way to study and acknowledge the legacy of slavery and systemic racism and how those forces continue to shape and take form in today’s society.
“[Critical race theory] recognizes that racism is not a bygone relic of the past. Instead, it acknowledges that the legacy of slavery, segregation, and the imposition of second-class citizenship on Black Americans and other people of color continue to permeate the social fabric of this nation,” authors at the American Bar Association (ABA) explain.
Regardless, following a sweeping House victory, HB 377 passed the Senate in a 27-8 vote.
The Idaho House on Thursday approved legislation aimed at preventing public and charter schools and universities from teaching critical race theory, which examines the ways in which race and racism influence American politics, culture and the law.