Georgia governor signs controversial education bills News
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Georgia governor signs controversial education bills

Georgia Republican governor Brian Kemp Thursday signed a slew of educational bills into law, including controversial legislation to ban “divisive concepts” from classrooms.

House Bill 1084, known as the “Protect Students First Act,” defines “divisive concepts” as including such things as teaching that one race is inherently superior to another, that the United States is fundamentally racist, that individuals by virtue of their race bear responsibility for the past actions committed by others of the same race, or that they “should feel anguish, guilt, or any other form of psychological distress” because of their race. The bill also establishes an oversight committee with the power to ban transgender women and girls from competing on teams that correspond with their gender identity.

The governor also signed House Bill 1178, known as the “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” which would prevent the state from infringing on the fundamental rights of parents “to direct the upbringing and education of [their] minor child.” These rights include the right to direct the moral and religious upbringing of their children and the right to review all instructional material to be provided to their children.

In addition, governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 226, which provides a method for parents to complain about offensive material in school libraries and have that material removed, Senate Bill 588, which provides that local board of education meetings be open to the public, Senate Bill 220, to establish mandatory financial literacy courses for students, House Bill 517, which doubles the tax credit program for student scholarship organizations, and House Bill 385, which allows retired teachers to return to the classroom in areas of high need.

Governor Kemp said that the legislation would “put students and parents first by keeping woke politics out of the classroom and off our ballfields.” However, the Democratic Party of Georgia held a press conference with parents and teachers after the signing, accusing the governor of “putting politics ahead of Georgia students’ education” in an attempt to appeal to Republican voters. Andrea Young, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, said, “Georgia has a complex history with race and racism. Students and teachers should be free to expand on that history without interference from politicians.”

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