North Carolina school board passes strict critical race theory policy

Educators in one North Carolina school district can now be fired if they 'undermine' foundational United States documents or teach critical race theory in their classrooms. 

The Johnston County School Board unanimously approved the curriculum policy changes on Friday after county commissioners decided to withhold $7.9 million in district funding.

The all-Republican board of commissioners said they would continue to withhold the funds until a policy was established to 'eliminate the possibility of CRT – Critical Race Theory – teachings and any other potentially divisive teaching topics.'  

The newly passed policy – a revision to the district's code of ethics – states that teachers will face disciplinary action if they undermine the U.S. Constitution, describe racism as a permanent aspect of American life or teach that American historical figures weren't heroes, NBC News reported.

The code explicitly states that 'the United States foundational documents shall not be undermined' and 'all people who contributed to American Society will be recognized and presented as reformists, innovators and heroes to our culture.'

It also states that when 'discussing a controversial topic' all staff members should 'remain neutral and present the information without bias.'  

April Lee, an 8th grade teacher and president of the Johnston County Association of Educators, told CBS 17 that critical race theory was not taught in the district's classrooms. 

'I think that there's some confusion on teaching actual history that reflects the history of all people that live in the United States with critical race theory,' she said.

Lee also expressed that she disagrees with the policy, arguing that it is 'basically extortion.' 

'I think it ties our hands, at least for some teachers, who won't feel comfortable because they'll feel like they'll be called into question,' Lee said.

She also reportedly accused the school system of 'selling our souls to the devil for $7.9 million.' 

However, the Johnston County School Board is applauding those who helped devise the new policy.  

'We had principals, law enforcement officers, teachers...' school board member Ronald Johnson said.

'It was probably the best group of people who could have reviewed this, reviewing this, so I'm very thankful.' 

Critical race theory has been a hot topic in Johnston County for several months. 

Over the summer, groups of parents took to the streets to protest the theory and issue support for a policy restricting it in schools.

'CRT teaches that one group oppresses another group of people and white people are bad and people of color are being oppressed and really don't have the same opportunities but we want equality,' Dale Lands, protest organizer, told ABC 11 in July.

Lands was joined by dozens of parents who touted signs reading: 'CRT is racism,' 'stop CRT agenda,' 'fix the classroom,' and more. 

Johnston County's new policy comes just weeks after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill limiting how public school teachers can discuss certain racial concepts in the classroom. 

The vetoed education bill was part of a national effort by conservatives in more than two dozen states to combat views they associated with 'critical race theory,' a framework centering on the belief that racism is systemic in the nation's institutions and maintains the dominance of whites in society. 

Republican governors in eight states have signed bills or budgets into law banning the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 schools or limiting how teachers can discuss racism and sexism.

North Carolina's bill would have

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