MORGANTOWN – The House of Delegates churned through a long list of bills on Friday, Day 59 of the 60-day session. Many generated debate, but the Anti-Racism Act generated just over two hours of debate before passing overwhelmingly.
SB 498 is the Anti-Racism Act. The House on Thursday adopted a Judiciary Committee amendment that forbids any school employee to compel someone else to affirm, adopt, or adhere to a list of concepts included in the bill – concepts associated with Critical Race Theory. References to instruction were stricken from the bill.
The list includes such things as: One race is inherently, morally, or intellectually superior to another race; and an individual, by virtue of race, is inherently racist or oppressive.
Most of the floor speeches came from opponents and how the bill might affect instruction remained a concern. Delegate Cody Thompson, D-Randolph, said, “No teacher is going to tell a student they’re racist just because of the color of their skin. … The bill is about censorship, about trying to censor history.”
Delegate John Williams, D-Monongalia, talked about the many hours of debate over the various versions of the bill. “Based upon some of the clumsy debate that I heard, that’s why we shouldn’t be deciding how race is discussed in classrooms. … It reminds me of McCarthyism.”
Delegates Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, and Danielle Walker, D-Monongalia, two of the three Black delegates, offered long speeches.
Among Hornbuckle’s topics were all the sorts of bills that have crossed the floor in recent years – lots of booze bill, cannabis, baculum and more; but nothing on the issue most affecting the Black community – social justice.
About 15 minutes into his speech, Delegate Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, raised a point of order that Hornbuckle wasn’t discussing the bill. Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, responded that almost no one had talked about the bill and he was granting a lot of leeway in the debate. Hanshaw allowed Hornbuckle to keep talking.
Walker read letters and emails from constituents who’ve experienced racism, from kids and teachers and professors. One high schooler told her, “ This bill puts handcuffs on our teachers.”
Walker herself said, “We must always remember what the dark past has taught us. … Like it, love it or leave it, unfortunately racism exists everywhere. … Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can.”
Delegate Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, said, “Calling this bill the Anti-Racism Act is the height of hypocrisy.”
Speaking for the bill, Delegate Todd Longanacre, R-Greenbrier, said that, compared to other states, CRT in classrooms “is not a significant problem – yet. … This bill simply seeks to make sure that we protect our kids from brainwashing.”
There are people who would promote that your prospects, identity, personal worth and values are predetermined by the color of your skin. “That’s unfortunate.” The bill aims to teach kids how to think objectively, not what to think.”
Education chair Joe Ellington, R-Mercer, wrapped up the debate. A a lot of the complaints about the bill were based on the original version, not what was before the delegates for a vote, he said. The bill just sets the ground rules; the concepts can be discussed but not forced on anyone.
The vote was 75-24 and it returns to the Senate. Locally, all Democrats voted against it and all Republicans voted for it.
Learning pod bill
The other major education bill on the floor Friday was SB 268, to authorize and regulate learning pods and microschools. The regulation mirrors homeschooling regulation.
A microschool is an alternative school created by teachers that charges tuition. A learning pod is a voluntary association of parents choosing to group their children together for education.
Delegte Dana Ferrell, R-Kanawha, is a teacher and said he’s OK with learning pods but not microschools. With a possibility of 100 students, it’s not micro, it’s a school.
Microschools offer someone who wants to set one up a good way to make money, he said, with no safety regulations, background checks, student nutrition guidelines or financial accountability. “This just gives the license to people to do what they want to do.”
Ellington countered that both types of school are just alternative ways to educate kids. “The bottom line is to be able to educate our kids.”
Parents have a right to this choice, he said, they have a right to free association.
He acknowledged there cold be few problems. “Some kids are going to fall through the cracks. Some kids fall through the cracks in the public schools.” But overall, the parents who are involved in this type of education are more involved than most.
The vote was relatively close, 56-41 and it returns to the Senate for amendment concurrence. Locally, all Democrats and Republican Joe Statler, who is Education vice chair, voted no. The other Republicans voted yes.
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