Opinion/Shari Johnson/Publisher
On Wednesday, March 2, the WV Senate quickly passed 30 bills in order that those bills could continue on to the House of Delegates in time for Wednesday’s deadline to send them to the next body. One such bill was Senate Bill 498, creating the Anti-Racism Act. In a 21-12 vote, with Senator Bill Hamilton, Republican for Upsher County, voting with the Democratic minority against the bill.
Below is the Anti-Racism Act of 2022 as introduced for which you can read it for yourself and make an informed decision from that, without prejudice. But for my opinion, as a Christian Conservative, I have had great concern regarding the matter of Critical Race Theory being introduced into public schools.
In January I sent a question to Superintendent Kelli Whytsell regarding a personal concern, due to a discussion I had had with a grandchild regarding an assignment that sounded very much like that of a BLM (Black Lives Matters) Curriculum I had been following for concern of it making it’s way into our public school system. It was however not BLM curriculum. However, it still concerned me because it was an assignment encouraging students to write on police discrimination.
I am not ignorant to the matter of their being police discrimination, just as I’m not ignorant to the fact that there is discrimination in ”Department Stores, Gas Stations, public schools and private schools.” As long as there is error in human nature, there will be discrimination. But should it be taught as a matter of fact within law enforcement there is always discrimination? No. BLM and CRT (Critical Race Theory) curriculums teach that there is a superiority complex born into ”certain” people causing them to be oppressive to people of other races, genders or sexual preference even unconsciously.
I want my grandchildren to understand that if they truly are discriminated against, they should make it known; but they are not to have the attitude that discriminatory behavior is to be assumed or even considered when encountering police. Nor do I want my grandchildren, who were born white to believe they are better or less than any person of any other race, gender or sexual preference. What I want them to understand is that God did indeed create all men and women equal. God did not create hate. Man did, with Satan’s help. Nor did God create multiple “genders and theories” other than male and female. Man did that too.
I bring this matter to the attention of Ridgeview News readers because the coverage I’ve witnessed from other leading Newspapers has been very biased and leaning to the left. I promised myself when I began Ridgeview News that the “paper” (I realize it’s online only) would lean neither right nor left, but I would print the truth. But that of course is dependent on whether or not people tell me the truth, and should I ever find I’m in error, I’ll gladly tell you that too. But as for the matter of politics, it should come as no surprise that both sides will lie if it fits their agenda.
I will not fit my grandchildren into an agenda. I will defend their right to an education unbiased by someone’s agenda and not deceived by people who do not align themself with God. That is my right as an American. It is your right as an American to defend your family by your beliefs. I hope on that we can agree.
With that being said. please read the Anti-Racism Act without the bias of me or anyone else. If you believe it see be acted upon, please contact your legislators accordingly. And please, talk to your kids when they come home from school and ask all the right questions about what they learned at school today.
ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-2-9b. Anti-Racism Act of 2022.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Biological sex” means an individual’s physical form as a male or female based solely on the individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth;
(2) “Ethnic group” means a category of population that is set apart and bound together by common ties of race, language, nationality, or culture; and
(3) “Race” means any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits regarded as common among people of shared ancestry.
(b) A school district, a public charter school, the West Virginia Board of Education, the West Virginia Department of Education, or any employee of the aforementioned entities may not provide instruction in, require instruction in, make part of a course, or require a statement or affirmation by any employee of the following concepts:
(1) One race, ethnic group, or biological sex is inherently, morally, or intellectually superior to another race, ethnic group, or biological sex;
(2) An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;
(3) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex;
(4) An individual’s moral character is determined by the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex;
(5) An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex, bears responsibility for actions committed by other members of the same race, ethnic group, or biological sex;
(6) An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex; and
(7) Academic achievement, meritocracy, or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race, ethnic group, or biological sex to oppress members of another race, ethnic group, or biological sex.
(c) Any student or employee aggrieved by a violation of this section may bring an action against the school district, public charter school, West Virginia Board of Education, West Virginia Department of Education, or any employee of the aforementioned entities acting in their official capacities, alleged to be responsible for the alleged violation. The aggrieved student or employee may seek injunctive relief and actual damages, as well as reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if the person substantially prevails. Any action brought pursuant to this article shall be commenced not later than one year after the day the cause of action accrues.
CHAPTER 18B. HIGHER EDUCATION.
ARTICLE 14. MISCELLANEOUS.
§18B-14-4. Anti-Racism Act of 2022.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Biological sex” means an individual’s physical form as a male or female based solely on the individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth;
(2) “Ethnic group” means a category of population that is set apart and bound together by common ties of race, language, nationality, or culture; and
(3) “Race” means any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits regarded as common among people of shared ancestry.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a state institution of higher education or any employee of a state institution of higher education may not provide instruction in, require instruction in, make part of a course, or require a statement or affirmation by any employee of the following concepts:
(1) One race, ethnic group, or biological sex is inherently, morally, or intellectually superior to another race, ethnic group, or biological sex;
(2) An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;
(3) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex;
(4) An individual’s moral character is determined by the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex;
(5) An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex, bears responsibility for actions committed by other members of the same race, ethnic group, or biological sex;
(6) An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of the individual’s race, ethnicity, or biological sex; and
(7) Academic achievement, meritocracy, or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race, ethnic group, or biological sex to oppress members of another race, ethnic group, or biological sex.
(c) Nothing in subsection (b) of this section prohibits the discussion of those concepts in theory as part of an academic course if discussion of alternative theories are also included in the course.
(d) Any student or employee aggrieved by a violation of this section may bring an action against the state institution of higher education, or any employee of the state institution of higher education acting in their official capacities, alleged to be responsible for the alleged violation. The aggrieved student or employee may seek injunctive relief and actual damages, as well as reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if the person substantially prevails. Any action brought pursuant to this article shall be commenced not later than one year after the day the cause of action accrues.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Anti-Racism Act of 2022 to prohibit a school district, a public charter school, the West Virginia Board of Education, the West Virginia Department of Education, a state institution of higher education or any employee of the aforementioned entities from providing instruction in, requiring instruction in, making part of a course, or requiring a statement or affirmation by an employee of certain specified concepts.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
